The Red White And Blue (Poetry)

Red is the sunset and red is the blood
on the long-dried pages of history
shed in the heat of battle
fear is the flag
and death’s gaudy banner
both bandage and rag.

White for surrender
skin cold as the snow
and myths half-remembered —
the unicorn’s glow
and the virgin who loved him
lost too many ages ago.

Blue the far mountain in acres of mist
deep in its sadness
the valley unkissed
by moonlight or sunlight
the stones stand unread
recording invisible names
                                of the dead.