Inheritance

Or... why do we squander it?

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

Respect is earned, honesty is appreciated, trust is gained, loyalty is returned. Unknown

Not granted
by the king's seal
or Congress's ink—
these rights
older than
crowns,
deeper than
constitutions.

*Written*
in the architecture
of the soul
before the first
law was carved
in stone.

The parchment
protects
what was already there,
the fortress walls
around a treasure
that predates
the fortress.

*But*—
rights without
righteousness
are flowers
cut from their roots,
beautiful
or a season
then withering.

Liberty
sustained not
by statute
But by the daily choice
to be worthy
of freedom.

Character:
the invisible foundation
that holds up
the visible structure—
when it crumbles,
the whole edifice
follows.

A people's virtues
are the true
Bill of Rights,
their vices
the real
tyranny.

*God*
writes the original draft,
government
makes copies—
but only character
keeps the ink
from fading.