Veterans beware: remembering is a form of lying
at which politicians and war-mongers are especially adept.
Flag-burners beware: the U.S. Flag Code identifies fire
as the only proper & respectful way to dispose of a flag.
War memorial builders beware: pigeons are a kind of dove.
Whatever you do, they will have the last say, & it won’t be pretty.
Readers beware: all poets are traitors.
This poem was written from the prison of a bad conscience.
OTHER POSTS IN THE SERIES
- Poem for Display in a City Bus
- Poem for Display in a Subway Car
- Poem for Display at a City Reservoir
- Poem for Display in a Veterans’ Memorial Park
- Poem for Display in a Public Library
- Poem for Display in a Hospital Waiting Room
- Poem for Display in a Municipal Building
- Poem for Display in an Abandoned Factory
- Poem for Display in an Inaccessible Location
- Poem for Display at a Police Checkpoint
- Poem for Display Above the Urinals in a Men’s Restroom
- Poem for Display in a Vacant Lot
- Poem for Display in a Shopping Mall Food Court
- Poem for Display in a Housing Project
Dave….I really like this one. Damn it…I have read it 4 times now…..you have spoken truth here.
http://www.poetsagainstwar.com/
More like “reader beware, the poet is a wise-ass”. :-)
A wonderfully sardonic take on Memorial Day!
What? No one’s going to take me to task for that too-facile opening statement? Well, I guess I did kind of indemnify myself there in the last stanza.
and such truths be carved at a slant
upon the minds of those who rant.
so at ease in your place, ns
Hi Nadine. Glad you’re liking it here, and thanks for the couplet, which makes me think about the difference between ranting and poeming.
Ah! to find myself in logos on the web, among others who decipher the hint of sardonia.
just one of these spontaneous emissions after seeing the stimulating photographs on peace signs.
thanks for the feedback, nadine sellers