Who Was The Hero?

I have the name of a man I never knew,

Knew as a father, as a man; one of those special few

Who came quietly to these shores, with uniformed others.

Many feared death, others sought lovers.

Was he like me?  Like whom then?

Did he hold me as a child and press his face to mine?

Was I his future, or simply a brief liaison?

My own sons have grown knowing my needs and weaknesses,

What were his?  What was he like?

When I lay wondering in the early dawn

Was he also in some lonely barrack thinking of me?

Or had his mind already closed; his heart sealed forever?

I bear the name of a hero, but what does it mean?

Knowing now, that he did survive, and yet

It was my life that passed unseen by him

Father – what did I do?

Where was my hero, when I needed you?