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This Poem was Submitted By: Nancy Ann Hemsworth On Date: 2005-04-09 15:42:30 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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In the paths of heroes

True heroes can not be made they are born Dare we tread in the footsteps of heroes? Step out and become more than what we are? Again to face destiny without pause Action taken, uncaring consequence Never more clear, right and wrong, burden borne Easy to recall the day when life changed The fire burning in a soul full of cause Glory and honor not in armor worn So many days now past, decision made One bold step and life takes a turn forlorn Marked forever deep with a carried scar Days alone, broken heart, forget to mourne Footsteps of heroes only lead so far William F. Mansell

Additional Notes:
I am not sure whether or not this is something that is done here..but I am submitting this poem for a friend whom I have told about this site, and have sent copies of critiques that I have received. He was so very impressed with the quality of the responses that I thought I would put this poem on here, and perhaps the responses that it receives will give give him the final nudge to post on my favorite site..thanks guys and if this is not something that is allowed I am sorry..and let me know. Nancy

This Poem was Critiqued By: Audrey R Donegan On Date: 2005-05-02 13:49:10
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 8.56098
I'll start at the bottom and work my way up. 'footsteps of heros only lead so far' - a strong finishing line. I wonder if there is a way to lat it stand out a little more. ok, I'm going to jump around a bit: I might try putting a space between the 1st and second line of this piece. I think it would draw the reader in more, and feel less cluttered. I really like 'carried scar' and 'burden borne' Thanks for posting, hope I was of some help, Audrey

This Poem was Critiqued By: Mell W. Morris On Date: 2005-04-27 08:01:51
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.69231
Nancy, thanks for posting William's poem which I enjoyed and mayhaps soon he will post on his own...because that signifies a degree of comfort. (I know of no rule against this posting for someone to experience the site. It is my favorite for sure. I truly do not want to be in the paths of heroes because I'm not one and to be there seems to imply a commonality of beliefs or ways to live out your life within your same parameters. As I ponder this, I like the 3rd line of Stanzaa 1: "Step out and become more than what we are." I guess a time for decision-making does occur and your life forever changed. But poet tells us...one bold step and life takes a turn forlorn Marked forever deep with a carried scar. Then the dilemma of the poem, the final epiphany... "Days alone, broken heart, forget to mourne Footsteps of heroes only lead so far" and then it is up to us to find all the work that awaits us. I would have lost my tracking several miles back. Then we would have to make lists of who is to bring what. SOUNDS LIKE A FIESTA! Grand read which took everything out of me and if I don't eat soon, back to bed. Hope you will stay with TPL; YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY the type of person we need. Bravo! Best wishes, Mell

This Poem was Critiqued By: Gerard A Geiger On Date: 2005-04-14 13:51:44
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Dear William; Thoughtful work on the nature of Hero's, made or born? Grown and nurtured is more like it,from my perspective. Hero's do not know they do anything heroic, they just know they do the right thing...what is expected of them...and in turn what they expect from their comrades...all for one and one for all is the simplest equation of this philosophy on life..bred in the company of men (humans) for a purpose larger than any one man, applicable to all for the future good of all. Yes, there are casualties as you describe....and the loss of anyone is irrevocable with a gaping hole of anguish and angst....and yes the footsteps of hero's only lead so far ...for the hero and those who love him or her... but the selflessness of the Hero's act has repurcussions that carry on through the generations...affecting perhaps Billions of people down the road. Thank you for submitting this thoughtful work. Lookingforward to sharing more works with you on TPL. best always, Gerard

This Poem was Critiqued By: Helen C DOWNEY On Date: 2005-04-14 11:05:31
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 8.00000
William, A very good poem here! I would only unwind the last stanza to equal four lines. This gives it a nicer flow. It is true that heroes can't be made and it is not so very easy to follow in their foot steps no matter how much we try. And you are right when you state that 'Glory and honour not in armour worn"...we have no shields against those we battle, only cars. It is sad to be a hero, because after the glory all we have are memories. Helen

This Poem was Critiqued By: Tony P Spicuglia On Date: 2005-04-10 13:44:38
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.00000
Nancy, I think that whether something is allowed or not is not the issue, I actually viewed the piece on its own. I also have invited “external poets” to come and visit/post to this site, so I hope your friend finds the quality enticement enough come and join us. The only question that might occur is the permission needed by the poet himself, to post his craft. I was taken by sincerity within this poem. I found the non-specific nature of the “type” of hero, and the complexity of the “environment” to birth such a hero, the central points of the redemption that allows the birth. It gave a piece of this poem to many people, who may or may not view themselves within the text of the poem. In the paths of heroes – The title, before the illumination, tells us that there are paths of extraordinary that meet those of us who need it. One need not look farther, than where we have been. True heroes can not be made they are born – This is the crux of your thesis, that those who become the “true heroes” are unaware of the birth, for they walk as we all, till the instance of “heroic” need. Dare we tread in the footsteps of heroes? Step out and become more than what we are? - These are the defining issues for one put in the situation where decisive actions may be required. “Dare we?”, and the question is a moot one, for did they not, the “hero” would not be born. Again to face destiny without pause Action taken, uncaring consequence – A hero born sees the need, not the consequence within the need. Heroes walk in courage, and that courage responds to consequences seen were that response not present, and those consequences are usually dire. Never more clear, right and wrong, burden borne – The crux of the moment of diversion, when the action to the need create the “hero”. The clarity of the need for action is momentous, not the political/social/personal gain/loss of the action, but the need, of the moment, that action is the needed, and inaction will have undesired consequence. Easy to recall the day when life changed The fire burning in a soul full of cause – The description is of the internal motivations that create a hero from external need. What calls one to action, it is the burning to do what is right, that motivation that overcomes reticent and fear, the birth of the courage to do what is right. Glory and honor not in armor worn So many days now past, decision made One bold step and life takes a turn forlorn Marked forever deep with a carried scar – As with the rest of this verse, we are left to ponder what the “scar” is, is it loneliness, is it the nation/recipients/family forgetting the hero, disdaining the deed? What we do know is that, to be a hero doesn’t often pave the rest of life, and the hero is often left with his/her heroism as the lone badge, for if one thing is clear, in all aspects, in most cases, those no longer in need, have their own lives to live, away from the heroism of a long past moment of need. Days alone, broken heart, forget to mourne (mourn) Footsteps of heroes only lead so far – There is a universal texture, and I have visited too many who see the moment of need as the moment of heroism found, when what really is the heroism, are those who produce a change of perspective that encompasses those moments of purpose to be, and that includes the hero. I am not sure from the clues who/what/where/when, I do know from the expressions, a vanity plate does not make a hero, and a hero will be so, when the moment calls. This is an insightful piece. I enjoyed the read!!

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