I, Coward By David Roth © 13 March, 2005 A Reflection Dedicated to High School Friends Who answered their Nation’s call Proudly, willingly, and bravely, And went to that steaming Jungle And didn’t come home
							None of you came back. And you weren’t there to watch me, Walking along that giant monolith Of inscribed onyx, Afraid to look, More afraid to not. I never had your courage, Because I deceived myself Into believing that if I didn’t see your names Etched in that cold, black slab of stone, Maybe, just maybe, You’ll still come home. But you didn’t. You are my heroes. And maybe, some day, The coward in me will stand tall, And offer you the thanks you deserve And reach out and touch your names There on monument mall, And make you, wherever you are, As proud of me, as I am of you.
		I watched you, Bruce, Mostly on the sideline, But when the defense Needed an extra hand, You sacrificed your body To the gods of the gridiron And an otherwise uncaring High school student body And when the call came, You went. Proudly, willingly, bravely. I watched you, Bill, In awe at your prowess, Six-pack and pecs that screamed Look at me! You owned the high bar, But then you saw those Army Rangers, And when the call came down for you, You went. Proudly, willingly, bravely. I watched you, Bob. In front of the charge When some of us newer At this whole Sharing thing Stood back and kept silent. Your voice of reason in the troupe Brought sense and calm when we Just wanted to cut up. And when the call came, You went. Proudly, willingly, bravely.