Heroes



The children came in...as classtime drew near,
...I called out their names...and each replied, "Here!"
The classes went by...'till closing of day,
...I spoke up, "Now kids, please hear what I say!
A hero is special...to all of us here!"
...I tried to convey...with reasoning clear.
"I'd like for you all...to draw now for me,
...a picture of what...a hero must be."
Their little heads bowed...in a business like way,
...drawing their thoughts...to what they could say!
With ten minutes left...it seemed they were through,
...I gathered their work...like I always do!
The bell sounded loud...they scurried away,
...heroes forgotten...in moments of play!
Then I caught a glimpse...of one left behind,
...a small boy of eight...said, "Teacher, here's mine!"
He handed to me...his picture so plain,
...I must have looked stunned...for his voice explained!
"This is the place...where my Daddy is,
...and the name on the stone...well, teacher...it's his!
He died in Kuwait...a soldier at war,
...that freedom could live...in that land once more!
So, that's why I feel...there never could be,
...a hero as great...as my Daddy to me!!
There were tears in his eyes...matching tears in my own,
...for a moment he smiled...and then he was gone!



Penned By:
C.E. Dale Manning
Gideon, Mo.