You lived for the cause
A handsome young man from an affluent family
Well-educated, plagued by asthmatic attacks
You lived amongst the lepers
Never worried about yourself and comforts
To help the people less fortunate than you
You believed in the cause
First and last mistake was threatening a first world power
Though I can’t say I share all your points of view
You lived in the jungle
Sometimes with nothing to eat, not bathing for days
The revolution was what mattered
You were a radical
I think you should have chosen your friends more wisely
You were abandoned in the end
Red Wolf Journal Spring 2014, and a fresh start
10 years ago
Hmmm. Powerful, Pamela. Very powerful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie! Lots of great ideas behind that person and then he lost it all.
ReplyDeletePamela
from Therese B -- a tragic story about betrayal. Most tragedies are about some kind of betrayal. A hero, nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteTherese,
ReplyDeleteYes, it is a tragedy. But some would not think so.
Pamela
Oh my! I agree, this is powerful! You do an amazing job everyday with the prompts.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jessica and I did enjoy writing this poem and thanks for the prompt.
ReplyDeletePamela
Nice job! I really appreciate that you always bring in something unusual, unexpected...as you did at the end of this poem.
ReplyDeleteThanks Robin he was not a usual and ordinary type of person.
ReplyDeletePamela
Great title, Berets and Fatigues ... Fresh and creative choice for your hero poem ... well done!
ReplyDeleteRon,
ReplyDeleteSurely you must know who I am talking about.
Pamela
Marianne,
ReplyDeleteThanks for that.
Pamela
Reminds me of my student days when we were
ReplyDeleteinvolved in the Vietnam Moratorium.
Rall,
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting. Well this person was not well liked by my country. In fact they killed him.
Pamela
If I find it I'll send you a picture of me leading a demonstration in my Che Guevara
ReplyDeleteberet.I was leading the Teachers for Books
not War section.All the teachers that took part were black listed...didn't get promotions,got transferred out of their school..you pay a price for priniciples!But I sleep well at night.
Pamela, it looks like my earlier comment did not get posted so I'll try again. You're doing some great storytelling here. I like the premise and your tragic description, and reminder of the importance of choosing friends well. Sometime I'll share my (too long) Che inspired poem. Well done!
ReplyDeleteRall,
ReplyDeleteAs well you should. I loved the principles he lived by. He never swayed. I am not so sure about the nuclear bomb threat, we know that was his demise. But he tried to lead a noble cause nonetheless. You Rall are also in my list of heroes. Please send me the pic I would love to see it. Viva Che!
Pamela
This is a very powerful poem. Joseph Campbell observed that what makes a hero's journey is their belief in the cause their fighting for (no matter what we as the observers might think of it), and there's no doubt that Che was as dedicated to his as any. Unfortunately the cause can betray a hero.
ReplyDeleteJDM,
ReplyDeleteThanks and I would love to read your poem. It is so nice to know there are like-minded people in this community. For me he was pure in his ideals. And I have to admire that in a person. So few of us are.
Pamela
Francis,
ReplyDeleteViva la differencia! Che for me was so pure in his cause. He made the ultimate sacrifice for what he believed in. Thanks.
Pamela
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWe can still be friends, though!
ReplyDeleteYeah, Dan there could be a chance of that. And thanks for removing what you said.
ReplyDelete