Lonely War

Not all wars are fought on blood soaked battlefields

Nor are all fought against foreign invaders or other nations

Many wars are fought in much lonelier, frightening places

On a field of battle with much shakier foundations

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Wars of attrition are battled in our own homes

Against foes much more dangerously insidious

Those whom we love; friends, family, neighbors

Creating havoc, terror, pain to which others are oblivious

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They say a man's home is his castle

His refuge, abode, place of sovereign safety

Yet we cannot evict interlopers worming their way in

Claiming only well meaning intent in words so hasty

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When one is a prisoner in one's own home

Subject to abuse - physical and mental

From those out to oust you, take what's yours

With small but ever growing abuses incremental

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Where is an old man to turn for help

When all claim he's just elderly and confused

When all pleas for assistance and succor

Are by authority out handedly refused

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Locked in a mental prison, unbreakable bars of steel

Made up of stress, anger, fear, and confusion

Tended by those who only wish to take advantage

Hiding, huddling in a single room in total seclusion

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Such a lonely war has taken millions of lives

Turning them to a nightmare lived daily

Suffering invisible wounds, bleeding internally

Locked away, alone, in a cold, damp bailey

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The above was written in reference to recent events experienced by my wife’s 81 year old uncle at the hands of his own nephew. We had to get police involved and get a domestic violence injunction on behalf of her elderly uncle in order to reinstate him in his own home which was being usurped by my bi-polar, sadistic brother-in-law.