-- Different Kinds of Courage –

John Herlihy

There are different kinds of courage,

Each man has to find his own brand.

Establish why he needs to be brave,

For what he desires to take a stand.

Some think it be courageous to fight,

Courage to confront what to believe.

Let one’s fists speak for what is right,

Always a combative with no reprieve.

Others turn away without the fight,

Avoiding a false bravery to deceive.

Unwilling on a losing battle to alite,

Control of the emotions to achieve.

One can be brave just to remain silent,

Others shouting opinions to be heard.

What’s courageous with being defiant,

Speaking in the raucous voice of a bird.

What of courage to face the unknown,

Haunting questions to be discovered.

Ensure mystery in life’s fabric be sewn,

Until the answers are finally uncovered.

True courage breeds its own fortitude,

To confront danger, uncertainty, pain.

Bravery is found in a person’s attitude,

A kind of liberation that will never wain.

Courage to be found in the gift of love,

Giving of oneself with courage to dare.

Fearless first flight of a new-born dove,

To be loved in return one’s only prayer.

In the cavern of the heart inside you,

Discover your courage on your own.

The bird had no wings before it flew,

Discovered them after it had flown.

Courage can be found in the coward,

Who well knows what he must prove.

Long lost inner strength seen outward,

The coward’s humility gave him a groove.

The courageous man knows his own fear,

In the balance of courage, fear the pivot.

 Fear holds the coward’s cowardice near,

While courage takes fear beyond its limit.

Courage no separate essence of its own,

No bud to bloom, no cup to be filled.

Only brave thoughts into actions sewn,

An inner strength our inner virtue willed.

Courage is not for the month or the year,

The courage to live each minute and hour.

To be true to one’s self with no true fear,

The battles of life faced with steady power.

Whistling always keeps me from having fear,

A melodic music that from the heart sings.

The courage that climbs a mountain to hear,

Wind-swept peaks amid the flutter of wings.

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Sunday 13 February 2022