The Gauntlet

THE GAUNTLET

I could not love thee, dear, so much, / Lov’d I not Honour More.
-- "To Lucasta. Going to the Warres," Richard Lovelace (1618 - 1657)

The gauntlet was thrown down in London days
Before the war – an insult to the troops,
The nation, and the President. It lays
There on the field of Honour. Someone swoops
The gauntlet up and shares it with old friends.
Each person must decide the weapons they
Will choose. There’s letter writing, phoning tends
To work, boycotting’s another way.
But no one wants a battle. Surely some
Mistake was made. A true apology
Was surely made for some remark that was dumb.
There’s free speech in this country of the free.
He also serves who only stands and holds
A red and white, large-lettered sign that scolds.

Note: The sign says, "I am ashamed the Dixie Chicks are from Texas."