Spirit of '76

These stripes
seem less sharp
than when I was a cork
floating
on that slow, red current...
These stars
blink less brilliant
less wise
grunting unintelligibly
bearing their loads
while I taste the air
for the next vacant herd
of swine...
Why?
because I
am American
Legion
and it is Christian Day
at Six Flags.

First appeared in "The HazMat Review," Vol. 3, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 1998