Perspective and the quest…
Excerpted from – To Begin Again
…Many months Robert sailed among the isles and wandered the highlands
Questing for support
Among peoples of a land accustomed to only their own chieftains
But it was a warrior’s king
That was asking and not some prim dandy for a far off royal court
And so it was highlanders would do this thing…
-gl-
Doing what should be done, or not, or must…
Excerpted from – A Personal Challenge
…As a general Robert should have turned
But this king and this man could not refuse to fight at this Bannock Burn
The eyes of all his fellow Scots looked to him
As their king and champion
Whatever his reasons Robert spurred his horse and moved to meet the foe
Quiet, as all waited to see how the fight would go…
-gl-
Contemplating perspective…
Sing-Song Of Whales
Seas subtle and blunt
The sing-song of whales echo
Submariners hunt
-gl-
From – Short Thoughts: A Book Of Haiku (aWIP)
Contemplating the nature of duty…
Cause of Such
It’s words like duty
The cause of such abhorrence
Honor and beauty
-gl-
From – Straight Thru the Curves: A Book of Haiku (aWIP)
Contemplating struggle…
Excerpted from – Seven Was Enough
In legend, Robert lay restless in a cave
Taken with grief
At the horrors beyond belief
He’d brought to family and friends that led to their graves
He pondered giving it up
Of sailing off to the holy land
But at that moment espied a spider
Struggling to reach the wall while he lay there
Six times it was that it failed…
-gl-
Doing the right thing…
A Little Girl’s Life
A hero acts now
And saves a little girl’s life
He broke the rules how?
-gl-
He knows who he is…
Decisions and responsibility…
Excerpted from – Now But a Slender Strand
…Back was their lone hope
That he might make time for the escape of his injured
On the trail that was now but a slender strand
The pursuing band
Was by the Bruce’s own blade deterred
-gl-
Contemplating the nature of heroism…
Raw Courage
A dog growls at me
I marvel at raw courage
And those pointed teeth
-gl-
Victory, glory, and defeat…
Excerpted from – Few Got Away
The Scots under Wallace
Were spotted in the wood near Falkirk awaiting the English
Edward was trampled by his horse but despite two broken ribs
Mounted this same steed ready to see who would live
The Scots arrayed themselves on the slope
Prepared to meet the foe
English cavalry overran the Scots archers
Then history turned on astonishing departures
Edward’s cavalry charged…
-gl-
Regarding heroism…
Excerpted from – No Asking Why
…Then thinking he might be ok he got out to prove
That he still could and stepped out into bedlam
Get away before more concrete rained
But hearing screams crossed the bridge hoping to find a way
To save the children in the bus from falling
Further. There was no stalling
And no asking why
-gl-
From – Bridges Don’t Fall Down: Stories from the I35W Bridge Collapse