We are presently reading the works of Tolkien
in which the heroes are magnificent and the villains
are horrendous.
And while it might be enjoyable to dream
of conquering and defeating those darkened
shadows of another world, we suspect
that we live among and daily meet many
unsung and unheralded heroes of the
daily humdrum.
To constantly, work at a job that is laborious
and tiresome year after year, to feed and clothe
loved ones.... takes a hero of a special kind.
To continually prepare meals and to keep our homes
comfortable and clean while tending young ones
day in and day out, merits the medal of honor
for the humdrum heroes of our society.
Today and always, we gratefully honor and salute
any and all of the unknown, unnamed heroes of the
humdrum who constantly enrich our lives.
(First published on May 15, 1979. Revisions made
on February 11, 2020.)