Hesitant

Hesitant

Eighty-one years now,
memorized in Kindy,

stand tall,
hand over heart,

"I pledge allegiance
to the flag and the

United States 
of America."

Never wavering,
standing tall,

removing my cap,
to sing our song,

". . .the land 
of the free

and the home
of the brave."

Saluting when in 
navy uniform,

standing tall,
hand over heart

leading the students
in my classroom,

at our games,
standing tall,

uncovered,
hand over heart.

This year, 
of course 

I'll display
it again, 

but, with never
before weakness,

lest my 
neighbors

think I've lost
my mind,

mindless,
mind you,

forgotten our
Constitution

and joined up,
disgracefully,

with the Trumpers
and the Court

who seem 
to value 

money, guns,
power and control

over 

"land of the free
and the home
of the brave"

cowardly turning
their backs on

all the young men
who fought

and died at
Normandy,

at Iwo Jima,
in Korea,

and 
Vietnam

and our children
in their classrooms,

standing tall,
hands over hearts,

and our women
in childbirth

losing their 
"freedom for all."

God help me 
in my shameful

hour of hesitancy.

j