Sometimes
Death has a message
Telling us the virtues we ignored in life
Are more recognizable
When we say goodbye
To earthly existence.
This country has never known dignity
Until we get used to a leader
Cursing his way to the presidency.
We have never known honor
Until someone used power
To overtake and bury it
Throwing cautions to the wind.
WE have never known
What domestic bliss looked like
Until someone ordered
Arrest, detention and execution
For those in disagreement
With the ruler’s insatiable
Killer’s instinct.
These days
Honor has overtaken us
As we applaud uncouth behavior
Like this old man
Groping his household help
On the day of his birthday.
And so we grieve for this public servant
Who held honor
As his badge of courage.
It turned out
Honor died with him
As we reckon with someone
Who prefers to rule
Than to govern.
So whatever happened
To honor as we know it?
It died with the mob
And passed away
With a selfless servant-leader
Who quietly lived honor
And never once defined it
With words.
He shouldn’t die in vain
Let’s proceed
To reclaim honor
In this wasteland
Of bad governance.
Honor what is thy name?
It is as simple as going to sleep
With a clear conscience
At peace in the midst
Of a weary world
Grappling with death and pestilence.