True Grit

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : A man can rise, a man can fall, Or choose to hide behind a wall, To take a stand or merely stall, Accept his fate or not at all. A man can walk, a man can run, To choose to talk or get things done, To carry on, slim chance or none, Until he knows the battle's won. A man can laugh or question why, Defend the weak and not just try, A man can weep or merely sigh, A man can choose to live or die. Yet such as these apply to me, Each chance I choose what I would be, A man of great integrity! Or just a man, no more to see! Denis Martindale. March 2021.