Certain death

To certain death we sent you
although you bravely tried
abstract thoughts of statehood
your vision never died.
To certain death we sent you
pursuing noble cause
that of the martyr
in spite of mortal flaws.
To certain death we sent you
the ember of a flame
yet now as it burns
some things stay the same.
To certain death we sent you
when you made your choice
not knowing such a word
would purvey a modern vice.
To certain death we sent you
so we may be free
yet one thing never breaks
the chains of poverty.
To certain death we sent you
among our cowardly ways
the guard may have changed
yet the tyrant stays.
To certain death we sent you
but will we ever learn
forever will we fiddle
while our Rome will burn.