Civil War Monument

I watch my babies climb

across the nameless memories

of this public grave their eager fingers

burn the polished granite

and engrave the plaques with flames

beneath the hanging flags they ask

and reach with throats of hungry fledglings

all at once I can’t explain

the dedication of these wars why a father

leaves his home to desolate and die

or what a hero might be called

or why a child returns to buy a gun

the ear is hot with shrieking laughter

they forget to ask their brains are wild

with fireworks of summer flowers