Sole Meaning

I unpacked some friends this morning,

Pulled out of a duffle, all crumpled,

With smells bringing memories without warning,

Throwing my mind disheveled, like the friends, rumpled.

These tread upon far lands in climate and culture afar,

Provided support through most extreme of danger,

Highlighting a mark on my soul that previous I thought a scar,

Wrong, though, for the reminder is of a place to which I am not a stranger.

Camaraderie I had found, and working to an end I did purport,

Some find irrelevant, disgusting, and ignoble,

Yet by looking opposition in the eye, my heart knows fundamentalists  we cannot court,

For their mindset is ego and ethno centric, and far from global.

My purpose to some may have been without cause or reason,

Conducted selfishly for personal benefit and improvement of others,

But through centuries of history I know patriotism has no singular season,

Since FREEDOM must be earned and protected despite personal druthers.

Guardians spanning from William Wallace to Thomas Paine,

Being educated and skilled warriors who actually detested battle,

Probably also had reminders that their deeds were not in vain,

For Liberty is not secured by attributes displayed by lemmings or cattle.

These physical reminders I had thought were gone, thrown away,

But somehow I must have known, that back in safety and security,

The importance of remembering hard times, strife, and suffering each day,

That are borne by those of true heart and intent, not hearts of impurity.

Whether the cause be ideological or for worldcentric space,

I am thankful that there are those with good heart who continue to make a stand,

With courage willing to defend against shallower engagements with grace,

And for whatever the level, allowing transcendence to expand.

How can so much meaning come from -

Crumpled and dusty, just silly worn old boots?