I wanted to return to some imaginary life
based on a collection of unstable memories I thought were real.
I would gaze fondly on those memories and dwell in their hazy light,
hoping they would do more than flicker in and out of my thoughts
like quiet visitors shapeshifting from one identity to another,
never staying long enough to keep honest company with me.
Memories are never real, and they don’t change the fact
that everything went south on me by slow degrees
due to the causal forces of my own behavior.
There was no point in trying to reinvent something
from misunderstood origins.
It was better to go it alone in the here and now.
Eric Stephenson
Eric Stephenson served in Alpha Company, 2/75th Ranger Battalion from 1982 to 1987. He has taught English at various colleges and universities since 1998 and is also publisher, editor, and writer for US Represented, an online literary magazine dedicated to free speech and creative expression.
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Cassandrat
Great article! I appreciate the clear and insightful perspective you’ve shared. It’s fascinating to see how this topic is developing. For those interested in diving deeper, I found an excellent resource that expands on these ideas: check it out here. Looking forward to hearing others’ thoughts and continuing the discussion!