Are heroes really necessary?
can we live without them?
conscript or volunteer
must others die
so they can live?
Hero is a four lettered word
spoken in a recruitment office.
Trust in authority an asset.
Must be vulnerable
but training given.
Is heroism merely a moment
of panic in a foreign land?
A reaction to fear or fright,
a wild-eyed freak-out
when judgment fails.
Do we need a false faith
in jingoism? A denial of old age.
A make believe
in the name of honour
for those unlived years.
Blood-soaked triggers point
at politicians. They stand at ease,
while generations keep treading
in their trench.
Shall we do our duty
or should we break rank?
In the aftermath a memory
is sculpted. Embodied in glory,
fashioned in fame.
The flag is waved. Medals are struck.
But who is victorious?