I can feel your patriotism
from across the street.
There’s a sense of arrogance
in your flashy display
of love for your country.

What ignited your patriotism?
Did a parent plant the seed?
Did your education reinforce it?
Were you there,
paying for butter with food stamps
during World War II?
Did you fight in Vietnam
or crawl through the hills of North Korea
as one of our fighters against communism?

You fly the flag to show respect.
Still, you fly it at night without light.
You don’t take it down when it’s raining
to prevent discoloration or fading
You don’t fly the flag at half-mast
When the state or the nation orders it.

Please align your sincere desire
to express your love for the country
with a solid understanding of
The Flag Code of the United States of America.