The Flag is Not Mine

please stand for the pledge of allegiance

the room stood up

its words uttering through my deaf ears

and whispering to those that listen

it spits lies of promises to freedom

Though my backyard is still ghostly

unmarked graves travel forgotten 

churning at the connection point 

Of dewy blades of grass and soiled dirt 

with hands over their hearts 

they determined justice for all

yet ignored words of the negro

became the radio of my nightmares 

untold stories stilled at segregated towns

never leaving the front door 

memories of undocumented protest 

form the words of books 

at the back of the library

always under “colored authors”

in shelves collecting dust 

the flag became red and white stripes 

of taken blood and false surrenders 

it’s stars covering a vast blue sky

Began to form into crosses

as the rocks wallowed in my stomach

they sit down in union 

it left me wondering 

are we all really under God? 

Kai Sarcomo, Grade 12

Creative Writing Major

"The Flag is Not Mine" won first place in the "Social Justice" category of the Congressman Frank Pallone Poetry Contest