Battle Dress: Poems

Karen Skolfield's book "The War Before the War" offers a unique perspective on female soldiers' training and mental conditioning, exploring combat preparation, long-term trauma, and the war's impact on language and psyche.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 07 January 2020
Publisher: WW Norton & Co

In a poetic voice that is both accessible and otherworldly, bold and insightful, U.S. Army veteran Karen Skolfield offers a rare glimpse into the training and mental conditioning of female soldiers. Through the narratives of a young soldier, her older counterpart, and her fellow soldiers, Skolfield explores the meaning behind combat preparation, long-term trauma, and the way war is embedded in our language and psyche.

The young soldier, fresh-faced and eager,
entered the world of war with a heart of fire.
Her older counterpart, weathered and wise,
shared tales of battles past and the toll they took.

Together, they trained, their bodies strong and bold,
ready to face the trials that lay ahead.
The drills were harsh, the conditions rough,
but their spirits never faltered, never broke.

They learned to trust each other, to rely on their skills,
and to never give up, no matter the cost.
For they knew that in the end, it was not just about survival,
but about the honor and the glory of the fight.

As they deployed to distant lands, their minds filled with fear,
but their hearts were steeled with determination.
They faced battles fierce and long, their bodies bruised and torn,
but their spirits never wavered, never broke.

And in the end, they returned home, their souls forever changed,
but their memories of the war would never fade.
For they had learned that in the face of darkness and chaos,
there is still hope, and there is still strength.

So let us honor these women who have served,
who have fought for our freedom and our rights.
For they are the warriors of the heart, the guardians of our peace,
and the embodiment of the courage that never fades.

Weight: 132g
Dimension: 140 x 209 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781324003014