The Need for Martyrs

By Robert Jones

These clowns

who jump to die young

are necessary

     we must have examples

     of souls being saved

     progress begins

     in a warmish ooze

     of blood

but would I trade history

for the lot of them?

Yesterday I met my father

in the flesh, alive

and none too well,

soul shriveled to a clot

that may cost him his leg,

and I said

     so that’s what you did for me

     gave in to them

     cell by organ by limb

     to keep me in school

     until I was part of them

     condemning yourself

     to die old

I only said Thank you, old man.

And he only wept

like history does

when it tries to remember

glory and crosses

and the red death of the young.