H.E. Mantel

(REMEMBERING) THE DAY AMERICA WAS ATTACKED?

“Hi, Billy, wanna
play?” “Sure, I got this neato
game on my new Play-

station 3!” “Cool, what’s
It called?” Jennifer Goes To
The War. “Hey, that’s my

name!” “Yeah, I know, don’t
be silly! Of course that’s you.”
“No It’s not, I’m not

silly!.” “OK, well,
ya wanna just play
soldier, you can be

the Special Forces
Marine?” “Umm…I don’t like this
Game, anymore… Let’s

play something else.” “Umm,
OK! What?” “I dunno, I…
just wanna go Home.”

©Copyright September 11, 2008 by H.E. Mantel

Author’s Note: Commissioned for “A Hero’s Journey”, an Anthology about the children of war and the interminable consequences that war has on their lives, compiled and edited by Erik Ekstrom.

THE MONSTER

The Monster hurts the
People; It has long claws that
explode things because

this is the Monster’s
job, to turn White into Dark,
Day into Winter

The Monster hides in
boscage, shrubbing Its slimy
Self’s glee, Wheee!, looka’

Me made September
Autumn colors fade quicker
& shocked the trees from

their awe of fruits to
nuts of green, we scene the joke
Monster prey-laughing.

Author’s Note: Commissioned for “A Hero’s Journey”, an Anthology about the children of war and the interminable consequences that war has on their lives, compiled and edited by Erik Ekstrom.