The Wounded Healer - Anne Morgan

He is by the gates of the city and he binds and unbinds his wounds, one at a time saying 'Perhaps I shall be needed. I must always be ready.' Henry Nouen

I am dizzy with the helicopter blades as tanks roll towards the cities.
Each evening we learn to pronounce a new name: Basra, Umm Qasr.
My mind is sliced: a cross-section of the public
As the chopper blades are wearing us down.
A soldier contemplates his boots: what is he thinking?

And you are flying into that in two weeks time.
I still see you as a little boy standing on the sand coloured wall to wall carpet
In front of a bubble gum machine
Not sure of whether to become a policeman or a soldier
Saying goodbye to the posters on your wall, your rugby ball and your gore-tex jacket;
You are glad you did not marry the wrong girl
Ring your Mom and thank her for the apple pie and Christmas cookies,
Kiss her good-bye; your eyes on hold.
Peering through the metal fence
Smiling and crying for democracy
She will drive home to an empty house
Flayed.

The bubble gum machine rusts empty in the garage
While you press clean white gauze on armies of men
Some fire rifles and missiles,
Others drop radios and pamphlets.
It has not been a peaceful war,
They cut short your para-medical training,
And you will walk the metal streets
A little less prepared than we are
Armed like a baby with memories of girls, gore-tex and bubble gum.
I will walk with you through the sheets of sand, smoke and fire
As you find the wounds to clean, sew and bind up.
I, like Gloster, eyes plucked out
Walk to the edge of every city
But there is no kindly cliff to spare me the sight
Of you.

My feet are numb
My pen bleeds.

Creative Routes is an important and dynamic organisation and this poetry competition deserves the strong support of everyone interested in writing; I'm greatly looking forward to reading the entries
Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate

The artistic relationship and dialogue between Creative Routes and the Young Vic creates new adventurous ways of working and new pieces of work. I hope that our relationship with Creative Routes continues to showcase this remarkable group's talents and views. DAVID LAN.

Now the ultimate winner and runner up will be judged in the Little Big Top and the BonkersFest Laureate crowned
BONKERSFEST! LAUREATE