Bryan Norton Poet Rhyme

The Greatest of Leaders

They fought for a man with a heart made of gold
Who freed all the slaves by the truth that he told
A leader who conquered the world in his way
And brought lasting peace that we honor today 

He led with a vision that all should be free
To plan for the future and choose what to be
Where wisdom is virtue and virtue is choice
To cast your own ballot and lift up your voice

For what kind of living is life without joy
Where slave owners keep but they never employ
Or free the poor slave who is sure he can't win
Or run from the pigment that colors his skin

This man and his army who stood with the brave 
Were bound and determined to free every slave 
Because they still honored the truth they were taught
That all men are born to be free and not bought

They fought with a fierceness that nobody knew
And fighting they fostered a vision that grew
That freedom is more than a right or a word 
But something to win by the victory assured

For goodness and mercy are worthy to share
When leaders are led by the virtue to care
They rise with a righteousness hard to defeat
And raise up the flag with the enemy beat

The greatest of leaders is one you'll agree
Is someone of stature you know you can be
For like the brave people who lived in the past
The future belongs to the ones who stand last.

Submitted to the "N/A Poem from a February Contest" contest
on March 16, 2021
Sponsored by Constance La France

Originally submitted to the "Your Favorite President"
Poetry Contest in February, 2021.
Judged on February 21, 2021

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Constance La France March 19, 2021 at 11:17 AM Bryan, congratulations on your win in my NA Poem from a Contest Judged in Feb 2021. I like this poem, well done _Constance Bryan Norton March 19, 2021 at 11:27 AM Thank you for doing this kind of contest. It's nice to be read. Take care, Bryan

Gary Radice March 19, 2021 at 8:25 AM Purely based on rhyme and meter this poem is a winner in my book. A very skillfully put together piece that screams the word "poetry" Great message too. Well done Bryan. You write poems I love to read. Cheers - Gary Bryan Norton March 19, 2021 at 11:25 AM Thank you, Gary, for reading my poems. Surprisingly to me, there seems to be a lot of hostility towards my approach to poetry. I've never taken a creative writing course, so I don't know how to write that other way. I'm writing for the general public to enjoy, and that is sufficient for me. Thanks again, Bryan

Andrea Dietrich June 26, 2020 at 4:11 PM Bryan, this is WONDERFUL! I know that you do not like LIncoln, but the first part of it at least to me, sounds like him! Did you ever see the Tom Cruise movie Far and Away? the part about raising up the flag as a family reminds me of when the character of that movie goes west and "stakes his claim" after nearly dying in the race for land! A real fight is coming to our land in the very near future, so I sure do hope that good people can be the last to stand!