Today’s prompt in The Daily Poet, by Kelli Russell Agodon and Martha Silano is to write a poem for Flag Day. Although the prompt suggests writing specifically about the American flag—and I did keep that in mind—I concerned myself more with the meaning of flags in general, because the meaning of a flag can shift for any number of reasons…

It’s unimportant without the idea
the concept for which it stands
the one that makes it friendly
or dangerous
depending on which side you’re on

I don’t subscribe to flags
of any sort
My idea may not be your idea—
or their idea
I wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea

The symbol should never be more important
than what it represents
because the idea soon fades
then the symbol can stand for anything
on its way to meaning nothing

(14 June 2015)