Poem for the ‘patriots’

Patriotism has nothing to do

With waving cheap flags on a red Subaru

Or “God bless”-ing everything that’s in sight

Or pretending an afterlife is everyone’s right

It’s learning and voting and doing your bit

To make sure that our country doesn’t just sit

Rehashing the past and reliving old wrongs

Reciting old prayers, and singing dumb songs

This year the word “Patriot” has been much abused

I’m sick and tired of it being misused

The next time you use it, just so I won’t scream

Please tell me you mean an NFL team!

ELAINE HAMPTON

Burbank