THE AFTERMATH The aftermath of battle Is a place Where no one wins Where regrets and stains weigh heavily And self- loathing does begin It's a place of awkward silence But the mind is loud with pain And every hurtful word's remembered And every hope was made in vain It's the place we call the "Aftermath" Where words and actions drain us dry Where solace stings Where mercy sings And the only question left is "Why?" With every recalled word There is hurt and shame tucked in Here, one questions All their motives- No one ever really wins So with battle comes an aftermath, A silent land of recent doubt So think before you battle Before your pain turns to a shout By Sandy Sinn