"Everyone's Hero"

A Hero must forsake his own needs and so is a tale of one such thing.

Sit down let me tell you a story about me,why I’m just another man conflicted with his inner being trying his utmost to be a prime example of a fine human.

The crowds of people herded together to all be heard I lend my ear and lend advice they wish to hear.

I solve their problems and reign in the fear they posses and tell them all that there is nothing to be afraid about.

They label me a “Saint” a fine “Patriarch” I am no such thing I continue to say.

The people look for my guidance thus I help in how to manage their own lives; what to lose, what to gain all to uphold my sound advice.

At first this was fine I loved to help but notice the past tense emphasis.

It use to be my dream to help all of those in need, I use to listen to stories and wondrous tales of men and women who were virtuous and treated as local heros.

I thought I wanted to be seen as one such thing thus learned about all sorts of things, they want skill? They wish to borrow my strength? Or perhaps my knowledge on the craft of trading?

Have no fear I’m everthing!

Just a jack of all trades yet a master of none to name.

As days turn to years of being the city's “Hero” I feel more inclined to just deny as I feel rather sleep deprived with all of this insane nonsense.

I just give , give and give but they take, take, take just take away all that is mine…. Including my time.

Inside I’m complaining thinking of ways to decline all of their sob stories and “Mister you've gotta help me's.”

“God’s just help yourself!”

Yet despite all of this internal discussion of personal conflict conflicting with my overall personality.

I have only one line of defense left before I crumble and fall My final wall to block off my disgust and distaste.

“Smile!”

So now I’m always happy, outside me is laughing along with this false expression.

To when I quite literally have no time to name to help with their inane quest they tell me this!

“I don’t care!?

That “I” wont help them for the upteenth time!?

So sorry but i've a lot more on my mind than those petty squabbles about who’s wrong and who’s right or that household problem of mice.

“SMILE!” SAY YOU'LL HELP!

Pay my life no matter it doesn't matter ,your’s which I don’t own is deemed more important.

This prolonged transient mirror stays awhile longer, never showing my true face…. This mask of glee shrouds me, consumes all of the sadness and turns my existence to that of a stupid grin.

My reality is becoming paper thin my wall is crumbling with each “Friend” that comes to me to fix their self absorbed life.

More like a “Fiend” as they won't let me go their claws are dug into my skin…. This is going to be the death of me isn’t it?

“You're the town Hero!”

They all shout and say…

"You're our Hero!"

"Please Help Us Today!"

I guess to be a “Hero” you need to be loved and in order for that to take place you must first shake your head in shame; as you are just an ordinary handyman, just a tool hardly deemable to be called a man.

I look myself in the mirror and see myself grinning… My face feels stiff and continues to ache the longer I continue to do this over played charade.

Yet this is all I can do to be redeemed a “Hero”

When at my humble abode I call a home I cry, tears I bottle up and continued to suppress… all to look my best.

When I feel weak I laugh… Practice line’s and funny one liners, Pass whatever time of mine reading and writing poetry.

*Sigh*

I knew it all this time, yet never truly realized the full truth it always held.

The truth that if you laugh the revolving world shall too but should you show your pain and cry you will be left on your own to weep alone as all of the happy folk burry you alive with their baseless desires.

Smother and kill you with their false sincerity that they give to hold a hand above your head and now you are forever in their pocket of debt,

However I’m the “Hero” I do no such thing, I have no limit to what they can ever ask of me while worrying over a reward or finder's fee.

Hero’s die early from over working for the people and of course the Kings… Legends are not formed from the sickbed no time to cool your head there is a monster that they want dead.

In battle a “Hero” will live even should they have perished along the way.

Spread your ashes of honor and glory for the people and King to see, inspire another  sad individual with rumors and tales of grandeur to take the bait and thus another “Hero” was born that day.

To give me a tomb made out of stone to remember me by and on it etches the fine print I never realized.

“Hero’s never rest”

Author's Note

So what did you think?

Reviews

[Njeri Brooks]

When I was really little, my dad told me "you don't go to school to make friends. You go to school to learn."

In the case with this poem, I find that the same concept can be applied with a little bit of a different spin.

You go into the world to live your life. You're not meant to just be someone's shoulder to lean on, or their temporary doormat.

There's a definite difference between being a nice guy and a pushover. There's also a huge difference people that stick with you to partake in your good times and those that remain by your side through the worst of it.

I think we both know what the difference entails, so I'll just leave it at that.

Obliviously, it seems as if you/the mc went through the pressure of pleasing those surrounding him.

A "Hero" serves just as a Martyr demands death.

Both have a personality that requires them to achieve self reassurance via a "valiant cause".

In essence, I agree that being suckered into the role of a 'hero' can be equated to a negative connotation.

Plus, heroes are often forced to represent and uphold the aspects of their culture. Thus, they often lose their individuality.

They simply fall into an out-dated archetype.

However, I personally think of a hero as someone who is very close to me. Someone I might admire and even look up to.

I don't really view them as people who come running with every complaint. I also don't think it's brave to sacrifice yourself for other people. Not even for a great cause...

Unfortunately, from history's perspective, the world never really changes until a martyr/hero comes along...

Sometimes it's just a means to an end. Just as war is simply a means to an end.

Aside from the writing, I can sympathize with the mc/you on being thought of as a constant shoulder to cry on.

It's not exactly the most enjoyable thing to be.

[Sir_Anonymous]

Ah man I was hoping you would name my favorite sentence "Spread your ashes of honor and glory for the people and king to see, inspire another individual with rumors and tales of grandeur to take the bait and thus another "Hero" was born that day." This litteraly gave me goosebumps after writing that and I just knew this was a keeper thus the story started to make this one sentence fit.

Also it isn't technically about me though I suppose every persona I don is me in the end.

I honestly felt inspired due to playing the video game known as "Skyrim" and just kept being asked to do miscellaneous task after side quest ranging from "Kill the monster" to "Find the man's armor"

Thus thought of the sentence I wrote first and then like I said I indoctrinated a persona for my "Hero" and like the story flow.

Sincerely, The "Hero"

[Sir_Anonymous]

***Let*** the story flow

[Njeri Brooks]

Wow. I'm way off my interpretation game lately lol

[Sir_Anonymous]

No you weren't that far I wrote my "Hero" to be pretty much what you described.

You were just off with the setting and who the "Hero" was based on lol

Sincerely, You're Fine

[Njeri Brooks]

Well, I guess I'm not a mind reader after all... and I was getting so good at it lol.

Why are we have 3 separate conversations? It feels like I'm talking to 3 different people... **sigh**

[Sir_Anonymous]

You started it lol

[Njeri Brooks]

lmao, I really didn't mean to...

I thought you were sleep or something.

[Sir_Anonymous]

😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴

[Sir_Anonymous]

Dude why ya saying my name here?

Lol I'm Sir_Anonymous for a reason

Sincerely, Hello Nijeri My Names Compomimised

[Sir_Anonymous]

*Compromised* stupid fat thumbs can't touch the dumb key I want.

Sincerely, Take it from the top

[Njeri Brooks]

....my bad :(

[Sir_Anonymous]

It's all good

[Shasha]

That's the beauty of poem, it says everything. Yes, the true fact, heroes never rest, always serve the people. They can't even tell their feeling to anyone. Your poem went with a flow! I loved this poem too. Heroes never stop, like that you also never stop writing!