Today’spoem

INVICTUS

I started pitying myself, For what I had to endure. Now growing old, I could not do, The tasks I could before. But in the morning paper, I read of others’ pain, Which made me stop self-pitying, And made me look again. It showed young men and women, Who were far worse off than me. Whose lives and limbs were torn apart, By acts of butchery. One moment fit and active, The next a nightmare scene. Barbaric acts by fellow men, Destroyed what might have been. Young men and women shattered, In what had passed for war. By bomb-blast or by rifle-shot, Some tapped upon death’s door. What many take for granted, Those brave souls lost for good. They went where others dare not tread, The toll paid in their blood. The months of pain and treatment, Their fear of life ahead. We all could see the torment, And felt the tears they shed. And yet as they were lying there, A spark of spirit showed. It would not die, it led the way, Along that oft-dark road. They would not give in easily, To doubts, to fear, to pain — They took a giant leap of faith, They learned to live again. As we, the many, looked in awe, And cheered at courage shown, Applauded each as champions, Hewn by their strength alone. So do not wonder, never doubt, Take heed when man proclaims, Those brave hearts were the winners all, In these Invictus Games. allan Emmott, torksey, Lincs.