you ask , you ask you ask me why i hide these eyes behind dark shades you ask me why i'v kept  them sheltered through the years and why  don't i want you to see what you politely term "the real me" the answer is simple yet to you it may not be clear i wear the shades as a mask to cover invisible  tears to cover invisible fears to hide scars inside me because when i finally let you see you display a shocking glare you look at  my eyes in disbelief never into my eyes you gaze upon my hidden soul my sadness and my grief you finally witness what's really there face to face with my stare but then how could you understand the how of this and when it came to be the why of what a moment in time did to me the things that happened to this man in a place where life changed my plans in a distant land across the sea a place where i learned to cry but kept the tears deep inside a place where men didn't say "goodnight" a place where morning never came a place where time swallowed friends with the coming and setting of the sun a place where a laugh assuming happiness was a mask  filled with sorrow and pain you ask,  you ask you ask me why about situations  too difficult to grasp and time should seem to mend it all but time has played a different game on those of us who went away on those of us who answered the call many whose names are on the wall those that were to remain you ask, you ask you ask me why i get angry over petty stuff and why the crowds bother me or why i wake up screaming body full of sweat after all night dreaming the answer is very simple but may not be clear to you of all the moments in my life how come that one hasn't left me yet you ask, you ask you ask me why i've built a prison around me and at times i need to be alone and stay inside day in day out the answer is very simple yet difficult to tell you about my actions that  are always in doubt from the pain that still remains from the  hesitation and uncertainties i have come to know leftover reminders of the war and a fear if i were to open my door as through my brain bits and pieces soar you want to know why must i upon entering a room the area is swept  searching for a space where i can sit with my back against the wall where i can keep my eyes on the entire place you ask me why i hide behind these shades the answer is very simple i'm the man war made

A MAN WAR MADE POEM AND GRAPHICS BY WILLIAM R. I. "EASY" SMITH INSPIRED BY M. KEENAN COPYRIGHT 2005  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED