grand old flag
old glory
star-spangled banner
stars and stripes
in need of conservation
its fabric weakens
though not everywhere
patches here and there
some places show fading
borders tear
gaps open between stripes
a few stars dim to shadow
smell of encroaching mildew
permeates the air
yet it’s a grand old flag
it’s a high-flying flag
keep your eye on
the grand old flag
Bonnie Marshall
Proem... 