What Happened?

What happened to all the crusaders?

Monday's martyrs and Saturday's saints?

Where have all the heroes gone?

Those who took a stand and said no to tyranny, injustice and persecution.

Fought for the little guy.

Stood firm in jail, torture, crucifixion and murder.

Were thrown in lion's dens and fiery furnaces.

Defiantly resisted while their tongues were plucked out, bodies burned and flesh boiled.

Were there, when they said they would be, despite the odds.

Put passion and principle before profit.

Took the hit and got back up again.

The unbreakable, swashbuckling, battling bastions of boldness.

Champions of beauty and good who challenged convention and authority.

Brave who wouldn't go along to get along.

Stoic armies of one.

Righteous rebels and revolutionaries.

Harbingers of high renaissance.

Ones who went against the grain.

Unfurled flags planted in bloody soil.

What happened?

Did we kill them or did they become extinct?

There is a price to be paid for everything.

Van Gogh still had one ear.

If you keep asking why enough times, you will arrive at an answer.

Hold fast to that truth.

Guard it.

Protect it.

It may be all we have left ...

Reviews

[Kathy Van Kurin]

'What Happened?'
Pete,
This was a great poem to remind us all to not let go of being brave and not giving up in this world. We all get tired sometimes and may wonder what is important eneough to stand up for when we feel like we are shot down. Lovely inspiring writing!
Kathy

[Pete]

thank you Kathy! a great reflection you share - a good, hopeful way to start my day ... :)

[Kathy Van Kurin]

I'm so glad! I hope you find good in it and more beside!

[D]

mmmm...People still the same. Some like to see heroes working for the good of others, and some appreciate them. But the majority(not the crowds but the big dudes in the black suits) loves to see them die. Nowadays the crowds wanna be those rich, lazy no good greedy pigs. So what happened to the heroes? Mankind killed them and attempted killing their ideas, and visions of a better future. Just some of the Hungarians Kossuth Lajos, Petőfi Sándor, The thirteen martyrs at Arad, the countless unknown people, Maléter Pál, Szentgyörgyi Albert... And I could fill lots of pages just with names, not even counting the ones from other countries.. We have a saying "Meghalt Mátyás és vele az igazság." (He was a king of Hungary) In English "Matthew died and with him died justice." So...want to live long... Don't be a hero. Especially not in this rotten, soulless world. (Meaning the mainstream of the media, and a lot of people, who think that life consists of satisfying the needs and lust for pleasure of the flesh, and nothing more.) And this little essay is lacking details, to make everything precise, and maybe it all looks a bit overreacting... But there lol. You get the idea.
Nice piece you've got here. 100/100

[Pete]

You are spot on. I couldn't have explained it any better. I appreciate that you get my message. Thank you for taking the time to read & review.

[D]

You are welcome

[Rene Velez]

I see we have common ground Pete, always good to meet a new poet with integrity, be well Pete, and keep writing.

[Pete]

Will do and likewise to you. Thanks for the read.