I’m honored that my poem “Reeducation” has been selected for publication in the spring/summer 2017 issue of Pamplemousse. To read the online version, please click here.
“Reeducation” will also be included in the spring/summer 2017 print issue of Pamplemousse, which will be available May 2017.
About “Reeducation”
The speaker in the poem is a war veteran trying to reenter civilian life. Having lost the language of the civilized world, he’s “wordless” and sees everyday objects through a distortion caused by prolonged exposure to violence. He drifts from place to place, carrying the images and smells of war with him—violence has a way of burrowing in and laying eggs. My father fought in the Vietnam War and spent a few years in a reeducation camp. I never heard his stories, but his silence is my inspiration for this poem. I hope you’ll enjoy it, and that it’ll spark a dialog on the subject of returning vets and their families. [read poem]
About Pamplemousse
Pamplemousse, published biannually, was founded in the fall of 2001 by the BFA program at Johnson State College. The magazine publishes high quality, forward thinking, innovative, and well-crafted writing in a variety of genres and styles. Issues are $7 each. [visit website]