Honor Poem by Jerry Pat Bolton

I knew what it was
even as a lad
learned about honor from
dad
wasn't what he taught me
'twas what he did
old fashioned kind of a man
kept his word
counted on those he met to keep theirs
if not
trust in the untrustworthy was lost
not many men like him around these days
never was any in politics
Will Rogers knew that
honor
even the marriage bed is tainted
prenuptial agreement
how demeaning is that

back in my dad's days a handshake meant all
no need for blood-sucking lawyers
a handshake, that's all
while looking a man in the eye
hasn't been all that long ago
in years
in morality it has been eons
if a man broke his word
back then
he was stained
couldn't live down the blot on his character
honor
used to teach children to be truthful
always an honorable thing to do
teachers are seducing
children these days
very few go to jail
wonder if it because most of them are women

honor
the Golden Rule
forgotten it
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
honor

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©July 9,2006