-- No Time to Be Brave --

John Herlihy

Occasions may arise with no cause to be brave,

To withdraw into oneself our emotions to save.

We tell little children to just let go, it’s ok to cry,

Little sorrows do have a reality so they can sigh.

We tell brave soldiers that fear a thing factual,

Bravery can be fine, but our fear is also natural.

Young people need to know bravery not enough,

At times people need to hold back the right stuff.

Mature people may realize that fear can be true ,

To face all the fears in our life that we ever knew.

For old people, the time to be brave may be over,

Soon they may lie quietly under four-leaf clover.

There comes time for which no time to be brave,

A moment to accept we must our courage waive.

-- A Time to Be Brave --

John Herlihy

Some time we may summon virtue to be brave,

To ride the crest of hardship on an ocean wave.

We tell little children ‘be brave’ so they will see,

That courage can open doors with its unique key.

We tell soldiers ‘be brave’, as an aspect of honor,

In a warzone, every step seems as a blind corner.

We tell our young people to be brave, to be bold,

Character and confidence built on what life told.

We tell mature people ‘be brave’, show no fear,

Wild animals smell fear as well as bravery near.

We tell old people ‘be brave’ in the passing hour,

Each one a lovely gift to give them special power.

Time to ‘be brave’ to lend such sacred sentiment,

So human character finds its true temperament.

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(c) John Herlihy 21 August 2019