COULD I DO THE WOULD I'S

By Roger Wallock
copyright 2007

Would I                 die to save my child?

Would I                        sacrifice myself for a noble cause?

Would I                   eat a bullet to shelter a brother in arms?

Would I                        dive into a pool of blood to rescue a drowning baby?

Would I            give my last dollar to a feed a hungry man?

Would I                        offer a kidney to my dying wife?

Would I                                    step between a bullying gang to shield an unknown victim?

Would I            turn off the TV and read a story to a sleepy child during the big game?

Would I switch places with Charles Darnay just so the woman I love could love another?

Would I                        give my last crumb of bread to feed a fellow prisoner of war?

Would I            crash the hijacked plane I was on to let thousands on the ground live?

“YES,” screams my honor but

Who am I?

Could I really do all these things or would I selfishly succumb to the fear?

Would I            devour that crumb of bread and keep my kidney?

Would I        mourn my child rather than save him or spend my dollar on trifles?

Would I                        look the other way and let the gang prevail?

Would I                                    let that tired child cry herself to sleep?

Who am I?

Could I do the Would I’s?

Am I who I want to be or do I just dream of being brave?