Testaments – Testament

This Testaments page is for veterans who wish to share material with others.

If you or someone you know has something they would like to add to this page for other veterans to see, please email me at Perry151@marshall.edu

Here not There

Here I am staring down the barrel of tomorrow

The battle within, a constant war and unexpected sorrow

There I was staring down the barrel of an AK-47

No fear, no hesitation, no worry what lied on the other side of heaven

There I was staring down the barrel of the cries of war

Needing the nightmares, the flashback, and the intrusiveness to be no more

There I was staring down the barrel of a shotgun

Unaware yet, dreadfully yearning for something to be done

There I was staring down the barrel loneliness

Surrounded by brothers borne in combat, but still consumed by emptiness

There I was staring down the barrel of a 45

I found purity in the language of combat, war torn and content, why did I survive?

There I was staring down the barrel despair

Feeling numb, detached, desperately needing anyone to understand, someone to care

There I was staring down the barrel of a bottle

Avoiding thoughts of the past, afraid of the consequences of letting off the throttle

Here I am staring down the barrel of the reflections of past and future…I stare at me

Fighting harder than ever before, because of what I am, a father, a husband, part of a family

Here I am staring down the barrel of life

When I found you, everything changed, you saved me, eternally grateful for you…my wife

Written by: Robert Chad Markwell

Inspired by: Brittani Markwell