Veteran's Day

Your death we celebrate today,
nothing more American than a dead soldier.

Let's drink to that.

The good ol' boys will proudly raise
their cheap bottles at the bar
for you, Sir.

Because that is the proper
thing to do.

Patriotism.

They will salute the flag,
and turn on some sad country song
about a truck
or a dog
that somehow reminds them
of a story.

Back in high school when you
out ran the county cops
on a dirt road
with your headlights off
at 2 in the morning.

Don't you worry,
today they will make you
a legend.

Your name will be told
to every stranger
that walks into this place.

They will talk about your
bravery
they will talk about your
honor
but not a soul will talk about
how or why

You died.

And why you keep dying,
day after day.

For a folded flag
given to your mother
at a closed casket service.

Nobody wants to hear about that.

Especially not the patrons
at this local dive
with that sweet gleam of ignorance
in their eyes.

It's too much for them to take,
so I just take it myself.

They wouldn't believe me
if I told them anyways.

Or they'd forget it
by tomorrow.

Because honestly,
only today is

Veteran's Day.