Where is the Evidence: Poems of Service, Survival, and Finding Words

Where Is the Evidence is an honest and deeply personal collection of poetry by Marine Corps Infantry veteran David Thompson that explores service, identity, trauma, healing, family, and hope. Written during a season of reflection, counseling, and personal growth, these poems invite readers into the quiet places of life where many of our most important questions are asked but seldom spoken.For many people, the hardest experiences are not the ones we endure but the ones we struggle to explain. Through authentic storytelling and free verse, Thompson gives language to emotions that often remain hidden, including grief, resilience, courage, uncertainty, love, loss, and the lifelong process of discovering who we are after life's defining moments.Although rooted in the experiences of military service, Where Is the Evidence reaches far beyond the veteran community. It speaks to first responders, caregivers, families, and anyone navigating seasons of transition, adversity, or personal discovery. Rather than offering simple answers, these poems create space for reflection, encouraging readers to slow down, ask honest questions, and consider the evidence of hope, growth, and perseverance that may already exist within their own lives.Throughout the collection, themes of service, sacrifice, identity, and human connection are woven together with moments of quiet encouragement. Thompson's writing does not seek to minimize hardship or provide easy solutions. Instead, it offers companionship and the reassurance that difficult thoughts and emotions can be acknowledged honestly without losing sight of hope.As the founder of Finding Words Press, David Thompson writes from the belief that many people are searching for words to describe experiences they have carried in silence for years. His work is guided by a simple purpose: helping people find words for life's difficult seasons through truth, storytelling, and authentic encouragement.Whether you are a veteran, family member, counselor, first responder, healthcare professional, or simply someone searching for language that reflects your own journey, Where Is the Evidence offers an invitation to pause, reflect, and discover that healing often begins not with having all the answers but with finding the courage to ask honest questions.More than a collection of poems, Where Is the Evidence is an invitation to embrace truth, deepen connection, and begin discovering the evidence that hope is often present long before we recognize it.