A Reader's Poem
July 20, 2010
Last month I posted a poem about the classic authors of the past. I also said that any readers could submit their own original works of poetry, one of which I might post on this blog. Well, here's one received from Andrew R, which speaks of the nobility and bravery required of manhood. Enjoy!
Victory Or Death
by Andrew R.
Will a man from danger hide,
Will he from the struggle bide,
Where the conflict shall decide,
Chains or liberty?
Does a manly spirit bow
To a tyrant's lifted brow,
Never! Up and lay the blow!
Living, dying free!
Every man a death must die,
All beneath the sod shall lie,
But the man who danger flies
Dies a double death.
He's a base and sickly shame,
Who the right will not reclaim,
Oh! for true and righteous name,
What is feeble breath?
Who'd a false deserter be?
Scoff a helpless woman's plea?
His no soul of liberty!
Naught but endless shame!
Coward base who frets and fears,
Duty's clarion never hears
Though a man his form appears,
His is not the name.
Selfish fool who saves his skin,
What is there for him to win?
Nothing but reproach and sin,
Slavery's awful blight!
But soul of sacrifice
Self and sin cannot entice,
His a prize of greater price,
Crown of glory bright.
What though cowards may disdain,
Boldness true men don't constrain,
Let not fear your spirit chain,
God defends the just!
Fear of man's an awful snare,
But to him who's frank and bare,
God will still his honor spare,
For in Him he trusts!
Men whose fathers bravely bled,
Oft their story you have read,
Glorious their "gory bed,"
Twas honor for the right.
By the faithful men of old,
By the sword of heroes bold,
Fight and die, but never fold
Stalwart in the fight!
Not a sniveling coward's duel,
Not the hauteur of a fool,
Not the lust for selfish rule
Fires the manly breath.
When Jehovah goes before,
As the heroes brave of yore,
This our cry through wreck and war,
Victory or Death!
Good job, Andrew, for such an encapsulation of Biblical chivalry!
Tueri a vulnere,
John