A fanfare of trumpets,
a victory parade.
The battle dust gone,
a hero's cavalcade.

Not hearing the cheers,
just being alive.
Thinking of one's comrades,
who didn't survive.

A welcome home,
they don't understand.
The nightmare is over,
a tremble of the hand.

Courage is not in battle,
nor fear under attack.
The most difficult of all,
the fear of coming back.