The hero (Continued)

Siegfried Loraine Sassoon

    “Jack fell as he’d have wished,” the Mother said,
    And folded up the letter that she’d read.
    “The Colonel writes so nicely.” Something broke
    In the tired voice that quavered to a choke.
    She half looked up. “We mothers are so proud
    Of our dead soldiers.” Then her face was bowed.

    Quietly the Brother Officer went out.
    He’d told the poor old dear some gallant lies
    That she would nourish all her days, no doubt.
    For while he coughed and mumbled, her weak eyes
    Had shone with gentle triumph, brimmed with joy,
    Because he’d been so brave, her glorious boy.

    He thought how “Jack,” cold-footed, useless swine,
    Had panicked down the trench that night the mine
    Went up at Wicked Corner; how he’d tried
    To get sent home; and how, at last, he died,
    Blown to small bits. And no one seemed to care
    Except that lonely woman with white hair.

More to excavate from this one it seems.

For what purpose

For what gain, means or result, why bother
It doesn’t belong on a resume, no job offers
Your children’s bellies, your families home
It won’t pay for a car, vacation, no benefit
Society will praise you, but offer nothing
An old story for the bar, garish blustering
They will thank you, admire you, shun you
Admirable alien, reminder of their faults
For what then, all risk, no reward, why?

You are right, but…
It is right, that is all it has to be

There will be whispers, fears, speculation
Did you? Was it a lie, a story, fabrication
A tinge of truth, inflated reality, fiction
Or worse, is it true? Was it true, horrors
Blood soaked, gunpowder blackened
Capable of, violence, killer, murderer
Did you like it? Do you still want it?
Are you, do you, have that, PTSD?
Snap, you could, maybe, a risk to us all

Then what?
Stay home, send someone else, who?

There is always someone else

No, we reject, deny, refute and rebel
We are not transactional, commercial
My brothers and sisters ignore the absurdity
Move forward to the line, past it, protect it
Sleep softly, warm, safe, nestled tight
Sheepdogs protect their flock, despite
Its rejection, fear, ignorance, cowardice
Selfish, or selfless, stories, told or forgotten
That isn’t the point, that is not the purpose

Then for what purpose?

Greater purpose.