The American Flag

Sweeping generously throughout the many skies
Representing the freedom we all take for granted
Never knowing what it truly means
The stars and stripes of this country
Raging high above
Isolated from where we will never be.

But there he stands
Fighting for the unknown
Watching
Waiting
Fearing
There he stands
With the flag on his shoulder
And the gun in his hands
Protecting not what he believes in
But who he cares about
He withstands atrocities
That disturb
His dreams
His realities
On he stumbles
Into the unknown
Not even understanding
What he finds
Bombs
Bullets
Blood
Death
The earth
Stained red
Never washing away
Anguish
Suffering
Seared into his eyes
His fellow soldiers’ screams
Lingering within his head
His throat
Clotted with sand
Faces once loved
Blurred
Within his memory
Tears on his cheeks
Remembering
What could have been.

Now he sleeps
Deep in the dark
Beneath
Those same
Stars and stripes
That we take for granted...