A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 79

Day 79: “Death Doesn’t Make You a Hero”


Death doesn’t absolve you of the damage you did when you were alive

Let me say that in terms you’ll understand

Death doesn’t erase your sins on earth


We have a real problem with telling it like it is in this country

We’re really afraid to speak ill of the dead

Why?

Some people were monsters and should be remembered as such


No, death does not make you a good person

No, not even a tragic death


Death does give the final say

Often in conjunction with irony

Giving a deeper meaning


Please, don’t lose the plot


A horrible, hateful, racist, homophobic, transphobic, Islamophobic, misogynistic, sexist, pro-genocide man in life

Doesn’t make a hero in death


You can’t just chalk it up to a difference of political opinion

A tirade against anyone who is not straight, cisgender and white is NOT a product of political opinion

It is a product of violence and hate


And you can’t hide behind religion


A man who stood for violence in many forms

Met his death with a bullet

A death no one should face

But for someone so obsessed with guns

It sounds like fate