The Dusk of Day's Remains, sonnet Options

[heartsong7]

The Dusk of Day’s Remains

His coming home alive was only half
the battle. Acting like he cared at all
for anyone or thing, to simply laugh,
was hell. Awakened, crouching in the hall,
not knowing where he was or why he should
survive, he raised the gun, and felt the scar
where once had been a cheek; then slowly stood.

By morning he'd retrieved his old guitar,
a scratched-up, string-less wreck he vowed to save.
I watched him recreate an instrument.
As countless hours of renovations gave
him purpose, he was peaceful and content.
He strummed his own renditions. Those refrains
still echo in the dusk of day's remains.

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hi Sue,

It's good to read your poetry again! I really enjoyed this and your title as well. As I'm not as confident with the sonnet form, I did wonder why you chose not to make the closing couplet its own stanza? I noticed you had forgotten the endstop at the end (I know, not much of a nit, but I did notice . I also wasn't sure of the word choices in this line below, and wondered if there is another way to phrase the idea that one of his few joys was playing the instrument (acting like he cared at all) - the 'at all' part seems to be a tad forced there for rhyming sake:
the battle. Acting like he cared at all

Now this line below peeks my interest - because you've introduced another person into the 'story' and I wonder what part he/she plays? Perhaps another hint elsewhere would be something to consider? Maybe personify that instrument: 'his'?
I watched him recreate an instrument.

Enjoyed the read and the draw in!
~Cleo