The Veteran Infantryman's Creed (NaPoWriMo 2026 Day 3)
Here's the prompt for the day from NaPoWriMo.net:
"Today, we challenge you to write a poem in which a profession or vocation is described differently than it typically is considered to be. Perhaps your poem will feature a very relaxed brain surgeon, or a farmer that hates vegetables. Or maybe you have a poetical alter-ego of your own, who flies a non-wan, treasure-hunting flag with pride."
I am a US Army infantry veteran and so I went with an unpatriotic infantry vet for this prompt. My other idea was really sexy accountant.
All poems are fiction and I am for sure an unreliable narrator at the best of times. There is some uncomfortable truths in this one though. I started out mimicking the real creed's prosody and stealing a few words from it, but it got a bit unhinged quite quickly:
The Veteran Infantryman's Creed
I am the infantry veteran.
I am my country's sacrifice in war. A budget line item in peace.
I was fodder in the fight...wherever, whenever.
I carried America's economic interest against, well enemy everybody actually.
Drones are now the Queen's of Battle.
I was what my country denies, enlisted for the GI Bill and lack of options.
In the race for victory, I told sick jokes and masturbated into the sand on guard duty.
Never will I fail to suck at life back home, because I saw my buddy's dick and legs get blown off, yet I'm supposed to care about my timecard and entering my top 3 career goals for 2026 into fucking WorkDay.
If necessary, I'll try not to feel jealous of a half dozen or so of my former brothers who, with steadfast courage, shuffled themselves off this mortal coil since deployment, earning true freedom.|
I yield NOT to, actually I kind of yield to everything because the modern consumer culture of western society is pathetic.
I have mental health problems, no sense of smell, my back and feet are fucked up, and I am morally all kinds of weird.
I forsake everything except caffeine, alcohol and the darkest humor.
I am the Infantry Veteran!
Don't Follow Me!
