"There's Always a Flag Flying at Half-Mast"

So, I've been working on this poem for a few months now, especially after seeing the craziness in the world of the last few years (especially last year in 2015, with the terror attacks in Paris and San Bernerdino, among other things).  We might now be into the second month of the new year, but this might be just as good a time as ever.

And so, without further ado, I gave you my latest poem...

"There's Always a Flag Flying at Half-Mast"

by Seth Shirer

There's always a flag flying at half-mast,

hanging limply up there on the flagpole,

because of some tragedy now since past,

And now our hearts each bear an empty hole.

What bad thing happened somewhere this time?

What horrific scenes will be in the news?

Go hear the rushing vehicles and klaxons,

emergency response teams, rescue crews.

No one seems safe wherever they should be,

not even the children placed in their schools.

The evil ones seek infamous glory,

While bystanders look, act and feel like fools.

Some crazy people do these wicked deeds

in the name of some worshiped foul being-

gods, demons, or merely voices in their heads-

which only they're capable of seeing.

Some bitter person has an ax to grind,

bearing grievances towards all the world,

and so the innocent people are hurt,

and from the aggressor's hand, pain is hurled.

The talking heads all across the media,

The politicians up on their hill...

If none of those folks will do anything

meaningful, then who among us will?

Everyone, hear the dying and injured!
Everyone, see the spilled and spreading blood!
Everyone, stop this advancing foul tide,
Or else you'll all drown in the deadly flood!

Until everyone becomes serious,

to sound reason everyone will appeal,

these awful disasters will never cease,

and none of us will ever truly heal.

(Thank you for reading.)