guess I need to buy a flag
that can only be raised
half-mast one that comes
doubled-knotted mid rope
or maybe a half flag
I can pull up full mast
perhaps it should have
50 bullets instead of stars
and shape it AR style
we could shade the white stripes
more gunpowder gray
mix more black into the blue ones
for this new frequency of mourning
and is red still the color of victory?
the rocket’s red glare
or is it our own blood
bursting into the air?
how about a trial separation
tear that American sheet in half
fly one high the other low
one to symbolize the armed
the other for open arms
and see if time or anything
might pull us back together
at least close enough
to stop shooting
at each other’s pursuit
of happiness