Day 19: I am grateful for poetry

I borrowed "The Best Love Poems of the American People" from the local library and I have not been able to put it down. I forgot how much I loved poetry and the emotions it can build within you. Here is one of my favorites so far:

"Our Heroes"
Here's a hand to the boy who has courage
To do what he knows to be right;
When he falls in the way of temptation,
He has a hard battle to fight.
Who strives against self and his comrades
Will find a most powerful foe.
All honor to him if he conquers.
A cheer for the boy who says 'No!"

There's many a battle fought daily
The world knows nothing about;
There's many a brave little soldier
Whose strength puts a legion to rout.
And he who fights sin single handed
Is more of a hero, I say,
Than he who leads soldiers to battle
And conquers by arms in the fray.

Be steadfast, my boy, when you're tempted,
To do what you know to be right.
Stand firm by the colors of manhood,
And you will o'ercome in the fight.

"The right," be your battle cry ever
In waging the warfare of life,
And God, who knows who are the heroes,
Will give you the strength for the strife.

- Phoebe Cary

This is dedicated to the young men who ended their lives because of bullying, before they realized how much of a hero they were and how much more there is to living.