I pledge allegiance to a country that's done nothing for me.
I pledge allegiance to this ticking corporate time bomb, counting down the number of people left outside of its marketing cage.

Tick tock
Tick tock
Tick tock

Clock counting down the number of days left until a new order passes, tying us tighter to the system we all say we want to avoid, the system hiding in the shadows of everything we do.

I pledge allegiance to "by the people for the people" turned "by the people for the money" because that's the fuel of the freedom we value so highly as to put a price on it, as if that's a measure of its worth.

I pledge allegiance to impossible standards laid out in HD clarity on screens too far from reality to reach, sending the message that worth is now measured by a number on a scale instead of what's in your heart.

I will no longer pledge allegiance this false sense of truth hiding behind a mask of lies,

Instead I'll pledge allegiance to the memory of one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Save for the yellow ring framing his pupils he has the bluest eyes
Wrinkles that date back to 15 but at 27 they've never been so defined
The smile he gives, he gives it away like it is nothing
He smiles at everyone even though he knows his smile is busted
Twice lost and held together with a metal post
one discolored tooth is proof that he can fight and win if hurt by someone too close
He sees monsters in mirrors and makes mountains out of his fear
He was barely even 12 when he first asked "why am I here?"
He knows everything is in his head but the noise is loud and always there
He's scared to get too close to anything and worries it comes off like he doesn't care
They say he is handsome, intelligent and kind but he has no idea why
They're looking at me but never make it past my eyes
Most people only see sunflowers in a blue sky