Stalwarts

Lives of great men remind us
That great ones are so rare
Mediocrity rules the roost
Excellence is just not there!

Why are there no stalwarts
Like those of times past?
Why does one mostly find
No substance, just bombast?

They say fusing integrity
With intelligence and fun
Was possible only for our
Dear departed Nariman

Today obits are interspersed
With usual news that's rotten
After their eulogies fall silent
All great men are forgotten

Neither have we improved
Nor found the reason why
We just wait with our praises
For other stalwarts to die!