The sonnet “Lest the Martyrs Fade from Memory (Hebrews 11, Revelation 6:9-11)” is a Shakespearean poem (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme, iambic pentameter) that honors the enduring legacy of faith’s martyrs, past and present, while lamenting the risk of their being forgotten, inspired by Hebrews 11 (the “hall of faith”) and Revelation 6:9-11 (martyrs under the altar). The first quatrain recalls the blood of ancient martyrs and those slain today, their voices forming a timeless chorus of courage. The second quatrain contrasts historical persecutions—flames and lions—with modern trials of steel and scorn, affirming that both shine under heaven’s watch, their spirits upheld eternally. The third quatrain notes the world’s forgetfulness, yet celebrates the martyrs’ ongoing sacrifice as a defiant, radiant band across time. The final couplet urges remembrance of their undying call to stand, proclaiming their victorious shine in heaven’s eternal land. Written without first-person references, the sonnet blends reflection with triumph, uniting past and present martyrs in a call to honor their steadfast faith.

The blood of old lies deep within the ground,
Yet still today brave souls for faith are slain,
Their voices past and present yet resound,
A chorus bold through time’s unbroken chain.
The ancients faced the flame, the lion’s jaw,
While now the steel and scorn cut just as deep,
Both eras shine where heaven’s gaze foresaw,
Their spirits rise where sacred vigils keep.
The world forgets, its haste obscures their stand,
From martyrs old to those this hour confess,
Their sacrifice ascends, a timeless band,
Defies the dark with light that none repress.
Let ages hear their undying call to stand,
Faith’s martyrs shine in heaven’s eternal land!