That word ‘hero’

Define that word
Hero

Wet firecracker
Disposable note

Am I a hero
No no not you

Yes yes hero
Dismissed

The better parts
Of valor, Discretion

Humility, honor
Valor, but quietly 

Then am I
Not if you say so

Hero worship
Community rejoice

At a distance
In a mask

On the screen
Beautiful fantasy

We hire heroes
Can I have a job

Oh no not you
Unqualified, poor fit

Then what for
Whispered words

Caesar gave land
Material gratitude 

Uncle Sam offers 
Disability pension

To what benefit
Purchased silence

To what ends
The stories end

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Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Survivor’s guilt

Guilty thoughts intrude 
Upon a small head 
Groggy and quiet 
On my chest

His son can’t have this
Quiet domestic moment
A bullet pierced 
Through his chest

Is Grandma guilty
with giggling children
Joyful and carefree
An unplanned visit

He couldn’t give
This small precious gift 
A third generation
For a surprise visit

Divide and conquer
We tackle bedtime
Split simple tasks
Settle children to bed

Plenty to divide
But he isn’t there
Another night alone
Always outnumbered 

Nothing new to report
These costs always known
It doesn’t change 
that you are missed 

I’m on Facebook, there I’ll be able to communicate with people more directly, and also have more writing updates, beyond daily musings and light bits of poetry.

Follow me on Facebook here.

Photo by Gabe Pierce on Unsplash