Heroes Poem by Eric Cockrell

there's been a lot of talk
about heroes this week
let me tell you about heroes

the single mom making minimum wage
trying to go to school, and keep
her babies clothed and fed

the school teacher who, upon
losing funding, takes his or
her own money and buys supplies

the young businessman who stops
what he's doing, and goes and
serves in the soup line

the common joes who sit
in protest of the oil pipeline
ready to be arrested if needed

the young girls in Taliban controlled
countries who dare to go to school

the Mexican family slipping
across the border by cover
of night, risking it all
for a chance, for a chance

the human rights activists who
speak out knowing they'll be
imprisoned, beaten, or worse

the neighbor who stops what
he's doing and comes over to help
when no one else will

the drug addict who walks away
from it, and starts over
step by step

the common citizen, of this country
or any country, that stands up
and says enough is enough
right is right, and wrong is wrong

these, and many more like them
are my heroes!