What cost does freedom really bring, when life is high and full of spring.

What courage is to count the cost, when neither time nor youth is lost?

It lies within a time gone by when those who stood knew some would die.

What cost does freedom really bring, it lies upon those souls who sing.

What song is that which sears the soul, that keeps the flame of freedom whole?

The song comes from the ones who stand and keep us all in God’s own hand.

For those who stand will count the cost but some will not and they are lost.

For those who do not stand today will not live on, will fade away.

To stand is not to be before, it does not mean to block the door.

To stand is simply to be there, to find the strength of those who care.

To do what others will not do, to help us all to see things through.

Defend that which we cannot see, find the strength to keep us free.

The strength we need is near at hand, it comes from those who made the stand.

But some cannot abide the light that comes to those who share this sight.

They will not see the need so dear, for some are blinded by their fear.

Some will only live in greed and only think of what they need.

Some will only join the fight for the power of the night.

And when the land is torn apart, these will fade into the dark.

For if we do not make this stand, we lose the power of this land.

We lose it for eternity, the gift of light that makes us free.

The strength that feeds this fabled light lies consistent in God’s sight.

It does not peak, it does not fall, it simply stands to strengthen all.

But it requires comforts denied, the pain of choice, not those who hide.

A strength of hope that does not die, but lives to fill the land and sky.

What cost does freedom really bring, it lies not in the breath of spring,

It rests instead in each one’s stand, to strengthen hope, defend our land.

It grows when those stand free and clear to help us in this time of fear.

To drown the hate that comes our way to stand despite what others say.

Be careful those who guard this light, for it can vanish in the night.

It will be lost when those who care forget the darkness always there.

And gives to those who have their say, a simple lie, the easy way.

A simple choice to turn from light, abandon those so far from sight.

Now hear me all who stood before, we need you now, do not ignore

Remember those who through our past stood straight and tall and to the last.

Stand with us now, despite the cost, we cannot see our freedom lost.

Despite the time and evil’s force, find the strength to stay the course.

For freedom’s fight is never done, it will not end with setting sun.

The price we give is never clear, but know that cost is always dear.

The song we sing to save the light comes from within to banish night.

What cost does freedom really bring? Just listen to the song we sing.

This poem was written by my husband, COL (ret.) Robert Riley Donoho