Great Men

Great Men

Lincoln: a great man? Sure: amongst the greatest!
Had anybody else been president
When word of Lee’s successes was the latest,
The mighty Union would have struck the tent.
Ain’t no doubt that’s what Old Marse Robert meant
To do with victories against the odds.
But Lincoln didn’t flee the hard event
Or reck the battlefield’s unnerving rods.
The disposition, in the end, was God’s.
Old Abe believed in God, perhaps, a bit.
Although his early generals were clods,
Grant waited in the wings and had true grit.
Thus in the net of time was Lincoln caught—
A different sort of great man than we’re taught.

–Tom Riley

Our Greatest Tyrant

Our Greatest Tyrant

Well, I like Mark Levin, I confess.
And I side with him now, more or less.
As he votes, so I vote.
But I do need to note
That he’s wrong about Lincoln. Hell, yes!

–Tom Riley

Triolet to Duty

Triolet to Duty

 

 

 

 

He did the duty that he had to do—

But greatness doesn’t come about that way.

His clear and certain failures?  They were few.

He did the duty that he had to do.

Beyond that line, he didn’t have a clue—

And his survivors don’t have much to say.

He did the duty that he had to do.

But greatness doesn’t come about that way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

–Tom Riley

Role Model

Role Model

 

 

You only have to give up what you are

And work real hard – and you can be like me.

It doesn’t help to wish upon a star.

You have to pay attention, look, and see—

Then imitate, my child, unceasingly

The inner greatness that has made me great.

Master my study habits and you’ll be

On your way.  No, I cannot guess the rate

At which your neurons will assimilate

The lessons that I manifest each day.

Those who resist may never graduate.

Don’t be like them!  Be humble, child – and say

Your lessons!   Chew them carefully and swallow!

I lead the way.  You only have to follow.

 

 

–Tom Riley