Stories

Split in Half

by Luis Carlos Montalván | Permalink
November 10, 2009

I happened upon a tree struck by lighting;
the aftermath of a wild and violent thing.
A tree split in half.

How do we come upon such things?

What happened here?

I have seen men and women split in half.
I've split people in half.
I am split in half.

Are two halves really a whole?

There are holes.
Deep and lonely holes,
split in half.

A tree with holes.

About the Author

Former Army Capt. Luis Carlos Montalván served two tours in Iraq (2003-04 and 2005-06), leading cavalry elements and advisory teams. He contributed to the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment’s success in “Operation Restoring Rights” in Tal Afar in 2005 and participated in the American Enterprise Institute's Iraq Planning Group in 2007. His published work has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Baltimore Sun, Military Times, NPR, the Huffington Post and Abu Dhabi TV among other media outlets. Montalván is a writer, freelance journalist and veteran’s advocate. He is presently completing dual Master's degrees in Journalism and Strategic Communications at Columbia University in New York City and is a member of the Council for Emerging National Security Affairs (CENSA). Luis is recovering from wounds sustained in combat and is co-founder of the humanitarian organization, Iraq Veterans' Refugee Aid Association (IVRAA).

Filed Under: Poetry, Stories

Tags: poetry