(x = space)

x

x

July 3

x

They were wrangling

I suppose

Having voted

Working out a document

To announce

The war

Officially

And an identity

A nation standing with

Nations

Newly established

Here for good

If possible

x

Slavery was

Set aside

And without a thought

Toward women

Either

I imagine

First families

Or the indigenous

In nature

x

Yet saying something

Human

Political

Flawed

Trying

To say something brave

Over the fallen

In Massachusetts

And the blockading

Or port cities

x

The war was on

This would say

We’re all in it now

Choose

Your sides

This is a side

To read out in assemblies

Inside

Outside

We are here

A nation

Enlightenment

Inserting God after the fact

Now committed

To the fields

Everywhere

Valleys

Peaks

Plains

Cities

Farms

Homes

Of battle

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Anca Muresan on Unsplash

x