Many Claim To Be Men of Honor.
Posted: Sunday, May 25, 2008
by straight talk
Many claim to be men of honor and men and woman profess with their mouth, praise God, do the ritualistic things before others but deep down in their soul they know the answer, as does God. Perhaps not the God of their focus, no the God they profess, yet do not serve.
Going through my dads papers, as a friend in her article prompted me to do, I once again found the true meaning of honor. I found it in a man ostracized by a fraternal order who claimed to represent that very quality or virtue. However, in my opinion because my dad spoke the truth, in a place that was supposed to be of light but was really draped with the tapestry of mankind and rather then light, the dark resided. Yes and because my dad dared to speak the truth he could not dwell among them. They had to flee from him. Yes it would be funny, if not so sad ,that when you look at the truth you recognize they could not dwell with him. Yes, and it even carried on after he died when they saw me, they did not know me, but only suspected something and yes they had to flee from sheer fear that I knew. That I never did because my father took it to the grave and only now has it come to my attention.
So I find myself today writing to much of what I see as a facade. It also is right before us all and yet many flee from it. However, I understand it is no less the truth and the truth must be said. As for me, I claim no such honor for I only claim to be a sinner. I too fall and sin. Yet, in my heart of hearts I know my sin and when I am wrong, I repent, I acknowledge, I make restitution, I try to change. That is all one can do. You cannot change what has already been done except by that.
So I wrote this poem in 2003 after his death and it won awards and was published. I think it sums up for us all just what I am trying to say.
Facade
[ Humanity]
In our heart, so very deep, lies the truth, no deceit.
Yes, you can hide the truth from me.
Telling yourself no one will see.
Doing the opposite of what you say.
Lying and falsehood the theme of the day.
Oh, Hypocrite, how you try and try.
But will you learn before you die.
That the one above knows all you do.
He looks at your heart and sees right through.
So before you die, change your way.
Try to walk in truth every day.
Then he who knows the heart will see.
And his righteous judgement will never touch thee.
Copyright 2003, Robert T. Melaccio Sr.
In memory of a true man of honor and Knight, Thomas J. Melaccio,, a man, a father, my dad.
Robert T. Melaccio Sr. 2008 Copyright 2008 Robert Melaccio
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Hi Robert! The heartbeat within your poems screams with truth and emotion; it touched me deeply - thank you. As I've told your often, your depth and introspection is astounding. For me, I've learned many years ago from my grandfather, a man of very few words, that what matters is what God thinks not man, and as long as we strive to please God, as human as we are, it will always be the right path. My crime, I suppose, is that I always expect others to think the same which brings upon a great deal of sorrow and disappointment. As I've told you before, dear Robert, you've a soul in South Carolina who thinks of you often. God bless you, my friend.Please log in to respond to this comment.Ditto..................................Robert.Please log in to respond to this comment.
What a wonderful tribute to your father.Please log in to respond to this comment.
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