Sacred Honor

How do we stand up – we, who came of age
in ages that did not require our blood?
We, who did not serve, who did not march
when liberty depended on the ranks
of righteous soldiers? How do we condole
The loyal sons and daughters who descried
the certain cancers lurking at our core?
We honor those who fought so we could live
by living well: by trying to be good
and honest stewards; offering this soil
to every seedling; shoring up the kind,
and leaving tyranny no place to hide.
May one brave soul, who, in this troubled world,
came much too early to a hero’s grave,
regard my life, and tell Eternity,
“This is how I would have lived myself.”