Glory's Tragedy

Written by: Bernadette Langer

they lie in graves 
cold and silent 
buried deep by intention 
weighted down with 
medals of gold 
do they regret
or still yearn 
to Revere ride 
through black of night 
with silvern voices
rallying to the cries 

they are remembered 
in the shining moments 
with brilliance 
until the blackened earth 
shoveled onto solid grave 
dims the glow 
as days drift into night 
and nights into years 
of fading memories 
sealed with tears 
of pride and loss 

those left behind 
remember for a time 
shouts of bravery 
heard amid blazing guns 
trumpets heralding glorious arrival 
they ran into hell 
and hell welcomed them home 
wrapped in glory's flag
gold lies tarnishing 
in that sealed box 
where we need to lift the lid 
to remember the sacrifice 

death creeps upon a hero 
without warning 
or thought 
silently his fingers 
find that golden halo 
and he is drawn by the light 
basking in the glow 
stealing its warmth 
until all that remains 
is blood flowing upon the ground 
and the tragedy is written 
with words of finality 
that we never understand

poets will place tears upon pages 
playwrights will write tragedy's 
filled with emotion 
to play to packed houses 
dwindling over time 
then forgotten 
until then heroes will act the scenes 
audiences will applaud
with standing ovations 
filled with meaningless platitudes 
for they can stand 
while heroes lie