Leadership

I tried to teach
My sons and students
What leadership means when
I should have shown them what I
Meant by my actions which were
The best I could at the time but
Not always as they deserved.
I used Lee at Gettysburg
After losing when he
Said to a shaky
Subordinate
That “This
Is all my
Fault
And you
Must help
Me out of it
As best you can.”
To take responsibility
And not blame subordinates
To give them credit and to give
Them the chance to achieve.
I am watching the debates
On TV looking for leaders
Who can do what I could
Only speak of, leaders
Who keep their eye
On real issues not
The particular
Fad of this or
That group
But on
Issues that
Affect all of us
In priority of concern
For all Americans and not
Just my own pet drama
Of too few books on
The shelves in my
Local library &
No calorie
Biscuits
With
Sausage
Gravy and
Reparations
For all immigrants
Who faced hardships
Starting with native Americans
And by the way any other
Bunny trails anyone has
That are not fixing our
Own infrastructure,
Environment,
Wall Street
Special
Deals,
Guns,
Taxes,
Border
Security,
Healthcare
And education.
All else is a
Bunny trail
For some
Me first
Faction
A leader
Will ignore.