Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Death of a Hero - 2010

I had idols growing up as most boys do. I dreamed of playing baseball like Mickey Mantle or maybe even being President someday but family heroes were few and far between. I had a relative that was in the Air Force, a military officer. What boy is not mesmerized by seeing a man in a uniform with ribbons and shining brass? I held him higher than I should have and lately have come to understand once again that heroes are human too. They have their frailties and weak spots, as did this one. My sadness is not in revering him as much as I did but not understanding that there really are no heroes only people who look like them.


Death of a Hero


Childhood days are spent in wonder

As we grow along each day

And heroes pull our world asunder

As we travel on the way.


Heroes are the glue that makes us

Dream and hope for bigger things

But when they die by lies, mistrust

Pain lasts longer than the sting.


My hero was a military man

He stood so straight and tall

But underneath his kindly gaze

He cast a frightening pall.


A family man was he to all

Who saw, admired as he went

Into our lives he came to call

Into his family, came to rent.


For anger caused him to display

A justice harsh and somewhat scary

And children feared in great dismay

And wept at loveless acts that varied.


He meted justice harsh and swift

Loveless all within his plan

Laid waste to all touched by his “gift”

The thunder rained from his right hand.


A childlike look has now been changed

But to the right it seems

My thoughts and praise now rearranged

The ceasing of my childlike dream.


A hero’s death is most times sadness

To gather to my in most being

But reverence not to one so callous

The pain now know was in the seeing.


For to his pain he knows no glory

But ill repute of harms he casts

His death a welcome end of story

His death erases from my past.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

A Sisterhood of Two - 2010


This was written with two sisters in mind, one born normally and the other with greater physical challenges in her life. It could be written for any brothers and sisters where one is so much more blessed physically than the other. Sometimes we get lost within the framework of our life and fail to see our own blessings in regards to another's misfortune. Call it pity, whatever, we need to continue to count our blessings and hold up those who are less fortunate that many times are holding us up silently with their love.

A Sisterhood of Two

Not many years ago it seems

Two girls were born with endless dreams

And to them held a candle bright

To shine forever through their night.


One came small and tiny fair

With eyes so blue and dark brown hair

The other came with love unmeasured

Both to them their parent’s pleasure.


One was given gifts and more

Than one could want to have in store

The other not as much for sure

And not the kind that could endure.


For daily life is hard to plead

When given less than what we need

And to the other sun shone bright

On endless days of moonlit nights.


For one had all she ever needed

And to the other so not heeded

That one should leave and other stay

The leader path’s that led away.


And as she walked into the future

One to lead and one to nurture

For in the follower was given

Something greater than in heaven.


For to them both a bond they share

Of love and honor, love filled care

But more than that to them imbued

A sister’s love a love for two.