by Neville Johnson
The life we take for granted
So many things we take for granted
Sitting here reminiscing
Contemplating my life
Thinking and daydreaming
Thoughts about returning home
Lost track of the days
Days with no names attached
The unforgiving Helmand heat
Sweat exuding through my pores
I can hear the Sangin sound
Talking to me, filling my mind
These quiet moments breaking me
The feeling difficult to describe
Feeling tense feeling tight
Unable to relax
God I hate this feeling in me
These quiet moments breaking me
Breaking me bit by bit
Waiting for something to happen
Reminiscing contemplating
Daydreaming and thinking
These quiet moments
Consuming me more and more.
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Neville was born and raised in South Africa, in June 2000, at the age of 23 he left his home country to live and work in the United Kingdom.
At the age of 26, Neville joined the British Army and became an infantry soldier. He served seven years in the British Army and during that time deployed on active duty to Northern Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan as part of an infantry reconnaissance platoon.
After his time serving Queen and Country, he worked as a private security contractor in Iraq, on numerous Unites States government contracts.
Neville is currently living in New Zealand with his wife and three young kids. He’s now working for a private organization running a military-focused Services Academy and a Business Management program for students in a local High School that provides young people with skills sets, knowledge, and values to become leaders in their communities for a better way of life.
During quiet times, he focuses on writing, specifically poetry. Some of his poetry has been published in three books alongside the work of other veteran writers, “Sweeping Leaves in the Wind”, “Alone in a Crowded Room” and “War… & After the anthology of poet warriors.”
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