Man Down Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Man down...
On urban streets,
Dredging trenches
In wars that heat!

Man down...
Too aware he belongs in numbers rare!
A species who would rather stand,
Than to crawl upon the Earth...
To be thought less than the grains of sand!

Man down...
Packed to defend
Who he is from within.
Protecting in 'his' mind what's his.
Fighting back without shedding tears!

Unsatisfied he must run and hide,
From those who deny him even rights to cry!
Just to keep his 'spirits' up...
He must show he has the guts!

Man down...
Struggling as he does to remain positive!
In battle fatigues or business suits,
Discarding who feels his 'moves' are negative.
He's reminded who he is whether in loafers
Or in boots!
And all that he gives...
He has no options completely his.
When he's called to shield and shelter others,
Sacrificing an image so that all may live!

Man down...
On urban streets,
Dredging trenches
In wars that heat!

Man down...
Too aware he belongs in numbers rare!
A species who would rather stand,
Than to crawl upon the Earth...
To be thought less than the grains of sand!

And even sand blows and drifts away.
No matter who he was
When he took his stance to stay!
A man down that has gone...
Is remembered if he demands his way!