All Fall Down

Jesse Doiron

November 5, 2021

No hero holds us all 

in thrall forever, 

for never can he be the same –

always. 

His name will change, 

as will 

our willingness 

to praise. 

It fades in days, 

though they be counted by in years,

and years be counted by in decades

– more, in centenaries.

Days will be counted by and by,

and, then, someday,

they will pass by – away.

They will – away.

By then, they will be past.

A hero cannot last in stone. 

His monument 

is only for the moment.

Jesse Doiron spent 13 years overseas in countries where he often felt as if he were a “thing” that had human qualities but couldn’t communicate them. He teaches college, now, to people a third his age. He still feels, often, as if he is a “thing” that has human qualities but can’t communicate them.