Formation

Death before dishonour,
So the saying goes,
But those two seem easy
When the gut is churning,
And the bile rises in the throat.
The choice to live, and live right,
Is often the hardest;
Yet who can we live with,
if not ourselves?
Honour bound.

Tomorrow brings perspective,
As it always does,
And yesterday seems easy
With the gut full,
And the anguish settled.
The choice to live, and live right,
Is often the simplest;
Yet on the cold nights of winter,
the scars still ache.
Honour branded.