MedEvac by Andrew Lafleche (Book Review #1956)

MedEvac by Andrew Lafleche is a powerful and emotionally charged poetry collection that offers a raw and unflinching look into the dark and often painful realities of life. Drawing from the author’s experiences as a veteran, Lafleche explores the harrowing effects of combat in Afghanistan, the anguish of divorce, the heartbreaking loss of a child, and the destructive nature of alcoholism. With each poem, Lafleche confronts his trauma head-on, reflecting on the weight of grief and the internal battles that accompany such deep personal pain.

The collection is a testament to the transformative power of poetry. Lafleche uses his words not only to express the immense sorrow he’s endured but also as a way to examine his own psyche and spirituality. Through stark and evocative language, he invites readers into his world, creating an intimate space where pain and vulnerability can be explored without hesitation. His poems are often raw and visceral, allowing the reader to feel the intensity of each experience, whether it be the chaos of war, the disillusionment of a broken marriage, or the numbing effects of substance abuse.

One of the central themes in MedEvac is the search for meaning and healing in the midst of suffering. Lafleche wrestles with the question of how to move forward when faced with seemingly insurmountable grief. There’s an undercurrent of faith in many of the poems, a quiet yearning for redemption and understanding amidst the chaos. The collection doesn’t offer easy answers but instead presents a journey of introspection, inviting readers to consider their own relationships with loss, faith, and resilience.

The title, MedEvac, itself is a metaphor for the evacuation of pain, trauma, and grief—yet, as Lafleche’s work reveals, it’s not a clean or simple process. Each poem is a step toward understanding, a fragment of healing in a larger, more complex story. There’s a constant push and pull between the desire to escape the emotional wounds of war, loss, and addiction, and the need to confront them in order to move beyond them.

For readers familiar with trauma—whether it be through their own experiences or the experiences of loved ones—MedEvac offers a cathartic and therapeutic reflection on the complexity of suffering and the possibility of redemption. It’s a collection that doesn’t shy away from the darkness but also hints at the possibility of light through the cracks. Lafleche’s ability to balance the brutality of grief with the tender search for meaning makes MedEvac a powerful and resonant work that will leave readers contemplating their own paths to healing long after they have turned the final page.