Summary: U.S. Memorial Day Special:<br> The best of contemporary war poetry.<br> ⁓The Voice before the Void<br> “Paratrooper”<br> Sean Barnett<br> Deteriorating cartilage,<br> torn meniscus,<br> bruising of the femur.<br> Arthritic diagnosis,<br> disabling infusion<br> of shrapnel, peppered<br> by an explosion.<br> Then, my parachute’s<br> canopy partially inverted,<br> slamming me to<br> the weakened joint.<br> Early morning clicks,<br> occasional popping midday,<br> and an aching in the evening<br> only endured by way of<br> abusive substance.<br> And that’s the good knee.<br>
