"I carry this weight as my responsibility of burden, my obligation to those who didn't come home, my compulsion to the generations of warriors, a sign of my commitment and duty as one who has seen the slaughter of civilization, the carnage of humanity, and stared Death in his shadowed face but was allowed to live." - The Weight This book has put into words that which is difficult to describe about military service and combat, including physical and invisible injuries. It aims to provide help to veterans and sufferers of PTSD through poetic form, both as cognitive therapy for themselves or by giving them the ability to clarify their feelings, emotions, and experiences to their loved ones, support network, and counselors. These verses are meant to be intense and hard-hitting as you travel through the different sections and topics. I hope you enjoy these poems, but even more so, I hope they help.