It is 1963.

A Man is born.

A Buddhist monk is ablaze from self immolation.

Western eyes are stunned and aghast.

Must he do this to protest persecution?

Can he not fight back with all his might?

It is 1941.

A Child is born.

The infirmed, afflicted, and those contrary

to status quo beliefs are led naked

to death pits to be executed in mass.

They know the end is nigh. 

Can they not fight back with all their might?

These Innocents never gave up on hope.

Even with a world seemingly gone mad.

They continued to have faith, to love, to procreate.

For it is better to live than not, even if it means to struggle.

It is 2015.

A Mother has died.

No great-grandchildren are born.

The Man looked down and heard the lies.  

They said they fear caring for the afflicted.

So they said.

The only Duty they really feared was caring for anyone at all. 

The Inconvenience to their lifestyle, their fame and fortune.

So who is the coward?

The Monk?  The Innocent? 

Or is it You?

D W Orr

Environmentalist, Weimaraner/Dachshund Companion, Photographer, and Poet-Provocateur

Harford County, Maryland,

Here, where it all began, 251 years ago, in the USA

January 28, 2020

Who are the Cowards?