A Shade of Honor

Some lie under the executioner’s sword

Some linger in the fields of coma

Some struggle up life’s razor-topped fence

Some pan for gold of their shattered minds

Some chase the flickering firefly of hope

In the cold immensity of black holes

Some wait in wooden boxes

for their crossing, wrapped in the color of honor.

Some bend and shed tears

Over the graves of their loved ones.

Some give learned speeches

That all is for the best.