Dennis S. Martin's Blog, page 43

Self-Sacrifice

Easyto say, yet

Toodistant to know that

Somany who went

Didnot return home,

Fallingvictim instead to

Self-sacrifice, 

Lostto the twilight

Ofbleak catacombs.

 

Andnone can imagine

Hisunselfish loyalty

Savefor the brothers who

Stoodby his side,

Whotendered their service

Inliberty’s kinship,

Carriedher banner

Withhonor and pride.

 

Heasks for no pity,

Nottributes or tears,

Hecharges no onus to

Kismetor fate

Forhe knows retribution

Alignswith the ages,

Arrayedat the aperture of

Heaven’sgate.

 

Selflessness

Hisbasic object of concern is

Pointedin an outward path

Embracingworlds as yet unknown

Inribbons of benevolence.

 

Herconscience of self-sacrifice

Deridesthe egocentric state

Andyields to kindness that exists in

Breathingthe experience.

 

Theirsis but a hollow world

Wherecharity is foreign fact

Andthey must sigh and suffer from

Thevacancy of recompense.

 

Oursmayhap to capture shards of

Joyfrom swift philanthropy

Andwalk with pride in every stride

Indignity and eloquence.

 

Yoursmust be a closed decision

Toprotest or acquiesce.

Doyou bow to pompous pleasures

Orconsign to selflessness?

 

Reverence

Oh,venerated pious phantoms

Wallowingin woeful worship,

Wouldyou know the difference between

Deferenceand self-respect?

 

Baskingin the adoration,

Yearningto be glorified,

Seekingprofound crowd-approval,

Knowingnot what to expect.

 

Herewe tip and toe the line.

Herewe wait and quiet stay.

Inthis house of humble homage

Honorbids us to obey.

 

Outthere where the world awaits

Withtalons drawn in malefaction

Glidesthe eagle of swift motion

Livingjust for satisfaction.

 

Inthe middle

Ofthe muddle

Wherewe lack in confidence,

Wemust walk in silent awe

Cloakedin earnest reverence.

 

Restraint

Holdme back, please.

No,wait! Let me at ‘em!

No!give me a minute to

Countup to ten.

Amidstall the confusion

Andunconfirmed facts

MaybeI should rethink things

Beforewe begin.

 

Immediateinstincts

Creepclose to the edge of

Inaneunderstatement

Borderingrave.

Tisonly by summoning

Strengthfrom within that

Sanitysways the bear

Backto his cave.

 

Wemaster the game as

Thewards of experience, and

Learnto guide temper

Pastvicious complaint.

Sippingthe nectar of

Sweetmoderation,

Trollingthe highways of

Gentlerestraint.

 

Responsibility

“Whois responsible for

Thishorrid mess?” said

Everypast generation.

Thefacts may change, and

Thetimes rearrange but

Theriddles are mere duplication.

 

Noone seems to know

Whichdirection to go,

Althoughhistory shows the sad lesson.

Butnone are confirming and

Everyone’ssquirming

Andno one looks prone to confession.

 

Themirror grows long and

Reflectionsare strong with

Themessage it offers for free.

I’dlike to blame hate

Orthe fallout of fate,

But

Responsibilitybegins with me.

 

Respect

MyMomma taught me basic respect, then

MyUncle Sam reinforced it.

Everyonewants it,

Mostfolks expect it and

Society’squick to endorse it.

 

Ifound early on that

Fairfavor is granted

Tohe who shows appreciation,

Anddeference grows

Whereesteem juxtaposes with

Abhorrentconsideration.

 

Inreverence we kneel as we

Worshipin silence

Andgive Him the honor and praise.

Ourtribute completes when

Thepeople we meet

Aregreeted with kindness and

Notturned away.

 

Andthen in the end

Weget back what we lend,

Asdignity stalks

Likean old trusted friend.

 

Resourcefulness

MacGyveralways finds a way

Whenno way can be found,

AndKirk and Spock can

Alwaysorganize a workaround.

 

Butthese are the exceptions,

Asmost must sad confess

Tofalling somewhat short

Whenmeasuring resourcefulness.

 

Whetherbe by trick or gimmick

Tacticor design,

Findingmeans to glean a scheme

Cantax the brightest mind.

 

Butmakeshift measures often form

Abrilliant strategy when

Imaginationforays 

Tounmask the mystery.

 

Sooften the resourceful mind

Contrivesthe clear solution,

Tofind the root and leads it

Toa logical conclusion.

 

Resoluteness

Angrybull raves at

Theslightest intrusion.

Thehuffing, the puffing,

Thedigging and raking all

Signsof inflexible

Determination.A

Definitewarning, a

Stormin the making.

 

Thebeast is unwavering

Inhis resolve and

Unyieldingin brazen intent,

Firmand unbending

Indeliberation,

Fixedin his mindset

Tonever relent.

 

Butblame not the brute for

Defendinghis bailiwick

Withevery means he retains.

Thestrength of behest

Reinforceshis quest as he

Seeksto secure his domain.

 

Reliability

Justlike Old Faithful…

Righton time…

Everytime… Season to season.

Likethe sun and the moon,

Theplanets and stars,

Likethe muse to the poet,

Likelogic to reason.

 

Steadfastand loyal

Asa canine companion,

Safeand secure like

Thewhisper of truth.

Straightto the point like

Theflight of an arrow,

Filledwith the energy of

Unbridledyouth.

 

Strengthto rely on

Whentroubles abound and

Faithneeds a noble and

Trustedfriend,

Leadingthe throng with

Thesureness of sunsets

Todrink from the fountain

Again,and again.

 

Purity

Thepurity of infancy is

Justa candle, bright but brief,

Dimmingas the world creeps in

Tosteal its brilliance

Likea thief.

 

Thegrowing up and growing older

Feedsan escalating fire

Muddlinga precious mind with

Carnalprospects of desire.

 

Andthough the heart bides

Trueand pure,

Temptationbates a rueful lure of

Choicesto conflict the mind and

Leavethe essence insecure.

 

Yetall are tasked to rise above

Thetempting vamp of lustful passion,

Walkthe higher road unsullied by

Thewreck of fickle fashion.

 

AndI am right.

AndI am wrong and

Nevercan be sure.

Foreverconflict vexes in

Thestruggle to stay pure.