July 29, 2010

"HERO" (BTP #13)

(courtesy of Photobucket)


Over at :http://bigtentpoetry.org this week's prompt was to write on the subject of "Heroes".  Mine are few and far between, but there is one hidden hero that means the most to me...

IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE....IT'S EVERYMAN!

While turning the pages
of this four-color comic,
(that’s not really funny),
all you see are the villains,
with their long, grasping tentacles,
petting their myriad minions
and filling their maws
with what they have plundered.

But where are the heroes
of this often-told story?
They have no bright costume,
or magical powers.
They’re painted in gray-scale,
with a bone-weary stance
and resolve on their faces
as they raise up their armaments.

A shovel, an apron, a chalkboard eraser,
stethoscope, helmet, or tin badge of courage.
They head back to the trenches,
where the struggle is endless,
where the fight’s never finished.
But they refuse to give up,
to lay down their weapons, 
to admit that they’re beaten.

Those villains make certain
to steal all they’re able.
To stuff full their coffers,
and placate their minions,
who increase exponentially
far louder and larger,
like fat, lazy maggots,
eyes stupid, yet cunning.

And our hero keeps going,
his jaw set for the long haul.
With a spine of titanium
to shoulder the burden,
the knowledge of right,
and the strength to still do it.
Appeasing those villains
and the multiple minions.

Yet our hero's still able
to keep the plates spinning,
food on the table,
and live by his code.
While teaching his children
a mantra spoke through the ages,
Of never give up-
Of never give in.
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

15 comments:

  1. "eyes stupid, yet cunning" - great encapsulation of Comic Book Bad Guys...

    You paint a vivid picture here, Cynthia....very vivid...

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  2. Good philosophy in this poem. A poet after my own heart!

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  3. Cynthia I agree with Viv good philosophy here!
    Nice one!
    Pamela

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  4. Hi Cynthia,

    It's often the unsung heroes that we should applaud!

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  5. Nicely done, Cynthia. http://thelaughinghousewife.wordpress.com

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  6. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things, never knowing they are heroes, and would never think to accept that definition. And it just might be that it will ever be poets like yourself who will be the only ones to sing their praises. Wonderful piece,

    Elizabeth

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  7. His jaw set for the long haul—
    So many good images— and some good lessons.

    Linda

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  8. Nice use of slant rhyme scattered throughout - love it.

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  9. lots happening with this poem Cynthia....read it a couple of times....i really like what you did here...and thanks for sharing your words

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  10. I enjoyed reading this one! Sometimes unknown heroes need to be known. Great post!

    -Weasel

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  11. Cynthia, I love the message this piece carries. You celebrate the unsung heroes. All of us. Thank you. ~Brenda

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  12. nicely done - a song to the unsung hero!

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  13. Those villains seem to have a little bit in common with some of our current political types. I'd love to see a comic book series inspired by your idea.

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  14. Nice! We have heroes and wannabes - the wannabes usually get top billing.

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  15. Nice to celebrate everyday heroes! Nice work.

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