at five to midnight
the true patriots wrap
the flag the flag the flag
around their shoulders
trying to stave
a song human ears
will never hear.
or;
beat the new lifeless day
within an inch of its life
because it offends
the insipid Pride
of being useful.
i watch this in awe
and unremarkably
draw the last smoke
into my sacrificed lungs,
i wanted to taste our cancer.
it never came.
