poem of the day 06.16.16

every day is flag day

flags blowing outside of the schools

flags mounted on green, watery lawns

in suburban paradises of the mind

flags on the antennas of block long cars

flag pins and flag buttons for sale in wal-mart

flag socks and flag shoes in the window

flags on your t-shirt and flags on your jeans

flags hanging from brownstones in posh brooklyn

flags hanging in the ghetto

flags on do-rags sweating in the summer sun

flag dishes and flag spoons for your all-american meal

flags in the ice cream and stars and stripes on a cake

flags stapled to your ribs

flag necklaces and flag earrings tinted with gold

flags buried in the jungles of vietnam

flags flying on islands in japan

flags on the hats of patriots at baseball games

flags planted in the cracked pavement

flags waving in the fragile hands of freedom

stickers of flags stuck to street signs and stoplights

flags plastered on the bumpers of trucks

flags painted on guitars

flags on the buses and subways cars

flags when you pump your gasoline

a flag on the horizon looking tattered and torn

but still burning into the western sunset

flags of conscience and flags of denial

flags on your bikini for a soft day at the beach

a flag for allende a flag for mossadegh and a flag for arbenz too

a flag on the moon for humanity

flags flying over the heartland

flags flowing over iraq and afghanistan

flags on the warships and drones

flags on the shot glasses and ties and spatulas

serving up those hot dogs and apple pie

flags for the socialist and the demagogue in you

flags in the morning cup of coffee

flags with a side of toast

flags half-mast at gitmo in the hot cuban sun

oh, so many flags here in america

every day is flag day here in america

flags in my nightmares fucking up my dreams

and a flag on your casket when they finally bring you home.