Guard of Honour

Many have defied running through this harmless gauntlet;

They fear the painless pain,

And reject the rewards of past pressures.

"To be guarded," advised the sages

"You must be guided by wits and whims."

For even the guards are guided by guilds.

This forced applause heralds the passage of champions

Who passed the test of the daunting task only

To be hailed by friends, frenemies and foes.

These are not like the jobless taskmasters;

Nor are they their ever-hungry lazy mouths.

No, they're hungry and thirsty for self-made wealth!

They're the never-fallen heroes of yesteryears

And the ever-present gems of our time

And the always reliable trustees of the future.

They're like us and they're we.

They were, we are and we both will be

If we remain one and undivided whole.

Let's separate in unity

And run through this deadly gauntlet

That we may walk through the guard of honour.