The Nation

The Nation by Gwendrina


Kneeling in the dawn's
distant light,
she takes up her flag
with bullet holes as stars,
stripes stained
from black smoke, musket fire --
and weeps.

She wants to wash-out war,
fill the loss
with days that gleam.
Scenes and sentiments
that hoist the mind
and keep it flying
at full mast.

A banner
that badgers the wind
for impossible change.