The words above are from one of the verses to America, the Beautiful: O beautiful for heroes proved / in liberating strife, / who more than self their country loved, / and mercy more than life! The song is an anthem of sorts in the United States; some think it should be the national anthem. However that may be, the words apply to heroes everywhere, for heroism often is manifested in ordinary persons who are tested (proved) in some sort of extreme situation. Write a poem about a hero, or heroism. The hero may be real, legendary, or imaginary. It may be a person, or not. Or, perhaps, you might want to write about heroism in an abstract way.
MARIE ELENA’S SENRYU
Interesting to note
A true hero’s response is
“just doing my job.”
© copyright 2013, Marie Elena Good
WILLIAM’S ATTEMPT:
WALLENBERG
In World War Two, in Hungary,
he moved amongst the quick and dead,
seeking a few whom he could free.
Why did he work in that vale of dread?
His answer was pure simplicity:
to spare some lives, or, as he said,
his mission was “to save the Jewish nation.”
© copyright 2013, William Preston
WALT’S HERO
LAND WHERE MY FATHER DIED
My country, oh storied land,
’tis of thee my heart beats strong.
Sweet land of liberty, how I long to wave your banner for
Of thee I sing; the song of freedom’s fight.
Land where my father died, a patriot and sentry
Land of the pilgrims’ pride, a man of faith and gentry,
From ev’ry mountainside I will shout my father’s name
Let freedom ring! It’s peal loud and long!
© copyright 2013, Walter J. Wojtanik
POETIC BLOOMINGS 