Private Duty I Choose

Private Duty I Choose
© Surazeus
2024 05 22

Every great hero in old epic tales, 
who finds himself faced with conflicting rules, 
to chase his individual desire 
or fulfill communal duty with courage, 
earns respect of our hearts when he performs 
noble deeds that protect his tribe from harm. 

Whether killing noble son of the king 
after skulking in his tent with blind rage, 
or sailing home from tempting queens and storms 
to reclaim his kingdom and wife from thieves, 
or founding city that will rule the world, 
the hero obeys high power of fate. 

Descending into the dark underworld, 
the hero reviews tragic tales of fools 
whose disobedience lured their feckless steps 
off righteous path to wander stuck in hell 
so he can ascend mountain of bold faith 
to reach paradise in garden of fruit. 

When monster of hunger and greed attacks 
people of his tribe who obey his word, 
the hero kills invader in the hall, 
then hunts and fights cruel demon in dark cave 
to slay the dragon hoarding precious gold, 
willing to die to keep his people free. 

Though born safe inside walls of paradise 
with duty to tend fruit trees of faith, 
if he disobeys mandate of his king, 
the hero repents and accepts his fate 
to build new garden in the wilderness 
where his sons fight over who rules their land. 

Putting aside his personal desire, 
the noble hero praised in epic tales 
dedicates his heart to grand social role 
where he assumes heavy mantle of power, 
willing to sacrifice his private life 
to guard his tribe with bloody sword of peace. 

When the normal man chooses to conduct 
his duty to perform strict role of hope 
through confirming progress of self-control, 
that nurtures routine of creative love 
which generates and fosters human life, 
he transforms into hero of his state. 

Pursuing individual way of life, 
that nurtures children growing from my heart 
so they can live well long after I die, 
is private duty I choose to conduct 
when I obey laws of nature with faith 
because I will to create, not destroy.