We Saw Ourselves

a flag flapped
violently
in the blitz
of violent gust -
was it a broken cross?
a spinning sun?
what ever it was,
it wasn't something new;
rather,
reading like truncated
story of us.

 

we saw ourselves
and saught to kill it

 

we only mind our reflection
when it's competition.

 

we get to be the heroes, then
and once the mirrors are all broken
we can live with that.

 

act like we're not brick
carriers, as well
for yesterday or today or tomorrow's
'night of glass'.

 

and, better yet
now a license to do it again and again,
because, what superhero
isn't benevolent?

 

a flag flapped
violently, yes
like every flag
i've ever met.
i've met winners,
but good guys?
not yet.
shifted victims,
shifted death.
but less?
a bogus dictim.

 

all we do is trade death
and obfuscate mirrors.
but we only mind our reflection
when it's competition.

 

some call this noble,
or patriotism. yet

i can only call it a method
of survival
for the way of damnable sinners.

 

i see you reaching for that brick in your back pocket.

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patriciajj's picture

An excellent commentary that

An excellent commentary that breaks through the facade of flag-draped heroism that is, as you said, nothing new, but the "story of us". A wry and surgical wit underscores the tragedy of history (and arrogance) repeating itself:

 

"we get to be the heroes, then

and once the mirrors are all broken

we can live with that."

 

Not only can we live with that, but we can perpetuate the "night of glass" today and tomorrow under the guise of righteousness because "what superhero isn't benevolent?". You cut deep with a sword of unsparing truth. I truly loved this strikingly insightful observation: 

 

"a flag flapped

violently, yes

like every flag

i've ever met.

i've met winners,

but good guys?

not yet."

 

Precisely! So well said I wanted to applaud. 

 

A brilliant indictment.