Strong at the Broken Places (NPR Tiny Desk Contest 2020)

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Strong at the Broken Places--words and music copyright 2017 by John Ciprian. Dedicated to veterans, to medical practitioners who are valiantly fighting for people's lives in the midst of Covid-19, first responders and to everyone who is challenged by their circumstances in life.

Tip of the hat to Ernest Hemingway for the title. Lyrics are printed below:

Strong at the broken places

Words and Music copyright © 2017 by John Ciprian

v1
Did all I could to bring back my men
A year back home and it still won't end

Been awake for days
Every mission gone wrong constantly replays

Stuck on all I might have done instead
A screamer locked inside my head

Who I was is gone with no traces
Strong at the broken places

v2
Things no one should see
Burned into my memory

The thick of action never led to peace
No time to think, where is that release?

People praise or demonize
But how many look into my hollow eyes?

Still in a desert with no oasis
Strong at the broken places

v3
Felt the weight of all it takes to strive
Something cried out and kept me alive

The deepest wounds are self inflicted
In the court of my mind I stood convicted

A numbness deep, so often I sink
Walking down the street can take me to the brink

But holding firm to all this life embraces
Strong at the broken places

November 2016: I started to write this after seeing the article below from USA Today about a veteran who had returned home from serving three combat deployments:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/11/28/veteran-fights-for-life-brandon-ketchum-veterans-affairs/93426876/

I walked into a lobby to meet people for work and saw a newspaper on a table. I was immediately drawn to this story on the cover and read it on the spot. This young man's experience stayed with me and culminated in this song. The front lines have come home via Covid-19 and its attendant devastation, and PTSD is unfortunately being experienced by countless doctors, nurses, medical personnel and families. This song is dedicated to everyone experiencing the challenge of living fully and freely in the moment and to all those who are helping to bring them through.