My, What A Pity

What is brave?
I fear in our newish world
we’ve recast the word,
leaving our children and theirs
to see it only as self-promotion.
Instead of a gritty dustbowl adjective
it has grown fat and mousy, addicted
to the drip of group validation.
What if instead of revealing something
about myself, brave is enduring something
beyond my power with dogged fidelity?
Our current distaste for martyrs
of any blood type shows our hope to be
in this life only. My, what a pity.
History will have little choice but to
remember us as flat Stanleys of
a stifling ignorance.
Maybe old cactus Ed was right:
lonely are the brave.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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14 Comments

  1. Sue on April 8, 2014 at 1:00 pm

    Sometimes we can’t comment right away because the fresh and woven words need to be chewed on – and then we forget to come back to thebeautifuldue and say yes, thank you.

    • thebeautifuldue on April 8, 2014 at 7:15 pm

      Thanks for coming back to comment, Sue. You are welcome.

  2. Mike Graves on April 8, 2014 at 1:02 pm

    Inspiring,God bless yall

    Mike Graves, CEO/Publisher

    Graves Publishing Company

    The Nashville News, Murfreesboro Diamond

    Glenwood Herald, Montgomery County News

    Publishers since 1878

  3. hisfirefly on April 8, 2014 at 1:03 pm

    “gritty dustbowl adjective”
    yes, this.
    and thank you, for the nicest of shoves…

  4. juliea on April 8, 2014 at 1:14 pm

    “What if instead of revealing something
    about myself, brave is enduring something
    beyond my power with dogged fidelity?”

    And yet this would reveal something, about oneself, would it not? But, perhaps just to oneself, because the world doesn’t much notice those whom are quietly faithful and committed.

  5. kellyatlovewell on April 8, 2014 at 2:28 pm

    Lonely are the brave because only the brave can do the work before them. Others can fight alongside me, but no one can fight for me. Nor can I claim the title because of what I’ve seen others do. Brave is personal and singular.

  6. Gwen Acres on April 8, 2014 at 3:08 pm

    A gentle and wise comeuppance …

  7. pastordt on April 8, 2014 at 9:20 pm

    Ever there, aren’t you? Right on it. I do believe in the go-to words these days – authenticity/vulnerability. BUT you’ve hit it on the head with this comparison, friend. Yup.

  8. Susan Irene Fox on April 8, 2014 at 10:34 pm

    How many times can I say, “Amen!” Let me count the ways. Feeling not quite so invisible today, thanks to you, John.

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