The Hero Poem by Barry Middleton

he was the hero of the forest
friend of the trees and brook

he was the hermit of the city
a buried name in a book

he wished for a faithful companion
he hoped to find her one day

till every hope had vanished
and silently slipped away

he loved not well enough
and most of his friends had died

before he closed his door
to the angry world outside

only then could he see the forest
only then could he sense the loam

as he plodded a midnight journey
to the green crisp valleys of home