subdued war beaten

all of the faces
sauntering at the
downtown veteran's day
parade
looked weary,
beaten by the
constant lying
we have had
to endure for
way too long.

still cloaked
in small town adoration
and ready to give
us the shirts
off their backs to
support a
war without reason,
these patriots
believe
in the way of america,
but they hide
their contempt.

instead,
they bleed this
fatigue
through their
tiny waving flags,
red flowers,
and popped corn,
telling everyone
that they
don't even believe
in freedom
anymore.

instead,
they believe
in each other
and our motives
to stand in
that cold missouri
wind at ten AM
on a new, sunny morning
to tell
those that
almost died
that we are glad
they are here
in their 57 chevy's
waving at our
kids
careening
towards the
gray ground
to pick up
their bright
stack of
discharged
candy.