Hero
The last hero confesses pain
and next door the general
is metal dressed by agile hands
his dazzling accomplishment
lies flat on the church floor
a band of light strapped to virtue
knowledge led by protocol
claims the right of silence
of the tumbled brick or fascia
of the cenotaph to the fallen
tile claims anathema
by brotherhood of generals
and you hold onto your paper flag
not sure if to wave or cry
Manolis Aligizakis 