Too Smart

He was too smart  

to fight their wars,

to put himself in danger for others,

to get himself hurt, 

or to do things that scared him. 

He was too smart to need strength in hard times because he was too smart to allow such times to happen.

He was too smart to be the one to step up because he was smart enough to hide himself from pain. 

He was too smart, he told himself, to have courage,

or spirit,

or daring,

or bravery,

or life. 

Not him. 

He'd be safe.

He was too smart for them.