A somber
breeze
salutes
this pole
unfurling
fabric from
its sag
stripes
unbending
stars
unrolled
midway up
where they
would wag.

For today we honor those
who sacrificed unsparingly
defending freedom to oppose
besiegers of democracy.

With
gratitude
unspoken
prayer
we
pledge
allegiance
sans
fanfare
commemorating
honorably
this
quintessential
history.