In The Few and the Proud, poet Samuel Ludke delivers a searing collection of verse that echoes with the thunder of resilience, sacrifice, and silent courage. With stark beauty and raw emotional clarity, Ludke honors those who stand alone, who endure heartbreak and hardship with dignity, and who carry unseen burdens for the sake of others. Each poem is a tribute to the quiet strength of the human spirit—whether soldier, lover, outcast, or dreamer.

Moving between war-torn landscapes and intimate confessions, this book captures the sacred duty of standing tall in a world that often asks too much. The Few and the Proud is not just about valor—it is about pain, memory, brotherhood, and the cost of being true in a world that rarely rewards it.