National Anthems

If you're a nation,

you need an anthem,

which comes with a flag.

Xenophobia's optional.

although it may not

seem so. Musicians

grind through the melodies

like millers making flour.

Anthems seem to take an hour

when you're waiting for the

game or match or memorial

to start. Hand over heart,

hat off, stand up if you can,

pretend to sing along

the way children do--all

up to you. In America's,

of course, bombs and rockets

go off in the midst of civil

war--which never ends. 

People treat anthems with more

respect than they do humans. 

hans ostrom 2022