HERO AND COWARD

Saturday 2nd March 2019 4:22 pm

A re-post on a theme that deserves open-minded considerations of the circumstances of bravery and its existence - or otherwise.

Hero and coward,

Two sides of a coin;

How close you may look

You won't see the join,

A flick of the fingers -

The hero's in place;

Another flick brings up

The opposite face.

Hero and coward,

What's in a name?

One deed gains the laurels,

The next gets the blame.

A flick of the fingers:

Sees the hero appear,

Another will show you

A face full of fear.

Hero and coward,

Within everyone;

One day to the fray!

The next on the run.

.............................................

Comments

M.C. Newberry

Fri 29th Mar 2019 15:40

Thanks for the comment, Jennifer...appreciated!
And belated thanks to all of you who "liked" this entry..

jennifer Malden

Thu 28th Mar 2019 17:40

Nice! Reminds me of Flashman, who always managed to get the credit for being a hero, but was usually trying his best to keep out of the thick of things. Jennifer

M.C. Newberry

Tue 5th Mar 2019 23:09

Thanks for taking the trouble to read this and add your responses.

John Coopey

Sun 3rd Mar 2019 09:56

Simple but all the more effective for it. And in a tight structure too.
I think it was Ronald Reagan who said something to the effect that we are all as equally brave. It’s just that some stay braver for longer.

M.C. Newberry

Sun 3rd Mar 2019 00:21

It hardly defies logic that circumstance can play a huge part in applying the words "hero" and "coward" - especially taking into
account human nature and self-preservation. Someone who loses
patience/temper (control?) in a situation might indulge in out-of-
character behaviour which might be
applauded or condemned.
One who in war unordered goes headlong to charge an enemy
might be driven by motives and forces beyond their usual restraint
but be viewed as a "hero" and even given a medal. On another
day, reticence and a cooler head might see something considered
to be "cowardice" by others. A soul who passes by a street fight
one day might intervene on another day. These can be the "flick of the coin".

<Deleted User> (18980)

Sat 2nd Mar 2019 19:54

I'm not so sure about the closeness of the two types, but I enjoyed your poem anyway Mark.

Heart of Lead

Sat 2nd Mar 2019 19:33

I like this! Often it is the hero and the villain juxtaposed. But perhaps the true opposites are in the one who takes action and the one who runs, but as you say, there is a thinner line between them than we would think.

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HERO AND COWARD

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