Courage: An Ugly, Difficult Idea
In a moment of weakness,
deep and harsh and full
of terror, Courage is
hiding. It hides from
kings, emperors; even
the holy men of Rome
find their courage
hidden from their pious
hands.
If it is so hard to find,
is the search worth...
anything?
Nothing.
Will it ever be?
NO.
YES.
MAYBE?
Maybe.
MaybeMaybeMaybeMaybeMaybe
Maybe the war will stop
in the presence of waving
white flags and tense
handshakes. Maybe it would
yield to compromising
treaties and unwilling
cease-fires. To enemies
being beaten down and
allies feeling victory.
Maybe the fight will
stop. Stop and never
come back.
But it would always come
back. Always.
Never stopping. Never
Ending.
And an ending is what we
all want. What we all need.
Too bad our endings end when
we lose. When our enemies
force our submission and
mangle our signatures onto
their treaties.
Courage. What is it? Where
does it go? Why is it so hard
to find?
And how
does it choose
those worthy
to carry its
approval?