MFreeZone: Ward Kelley

George Orders the Boats Manned

by
Ward Kelley

Courage is more resolve
than trait . . . it is a cunning
of the mind that gives
a moment’s chance
to be coward or brave . . .
a god that grants
a timely choice
between fearless
and faint.

So courage is indeed
a decision . . .
one hard choice,
to do the right
and not give in
to the weak . . .
the strength
always being
in the mind,
not the mettle.

George Washington (1732-1799) was one of the most important founding fathers of America. However what is often taken for granted in the Washington legend is the extreme courage and daring of his decision to attack the British on Christmas night 1776. Instead we retain in our mind’s eye the Emanuel Leutze painting "Washington Crossing the Delaware," the general’s chin jutted, his one leg propped and poised to step into history, and we forget how the American cause had sunk to its lowest point of the war during December 1776 – Washington had suffered setbacks by the British in New York, his army was reduced to 3000 men and in danger of dissolving and, when it appeared the British could take Philadelphia, Congress fled to Baltimore. On a stormy night, his rag-tag army crossed the ice-clogged Delaware, attacking a well-supplied British force of Hessian mercenaries. Washington routed the enemy and took 1000 prisoners back across the river.

Author information

Ward is making huge inroads in this area. Here is the list of work published by Ward.

• Novels written by Ward.
• Poems written by Ward.
• Short Stories written by Ward.
• Work by Ward found on the internet.
• Contact Info.

NOVELS

Two novels, "Divine Murder" and "Keenly Alive, Tony," are represented by The Sternig & Byrne Literary Agency

POEMS

Beauty For Ashes
Black Spring Review (six poems)
The Cutting Edge (two poems)
El Dorado Poetry Review
Lucid Moon (four poems)
The Lucid Stone
Mad Poets Review
Medicinal Purposes
Melting Trees Review (three poems)
Möbius
Mojo Risin’ (two poems)
Muse of Fire (six poems)
Poetry Motel
Potpourri
River King
Skylark
Small Garlic Press
South Ash Press
Tomorrow
Uprising
The Web

SHORT STORIES

Reader’s Break (two stories)
Timber Creek Review
Nugget
Best of Nugget

INTERNET

Clappers (three poems)
Ism( (two poems)
Poems From the Planet Earth (three poems)
Poetry Super Highway (three poems)
Pyrowords (three poems)
M Web Magazine

E&OE