I'm on my porch and just saw our flag moving

[tavernier]

idly in the breeze.

I remarked, “You’re asking a lot from us.”

I thought I heard it whisper, “Yup.”

[Grasswire2]

1. oh, I thought maybe a squirrel was wiggling the pole.

That happens here.

[tavernier]

2. Actually the flag was totally curled

so barely moved. But in the glow of a streetlight it looked almost ancient, just a bit of stars showing above the stripes, blood colored in the semi darkness.

It inspired me to ask.

[Delphinus]

3. Love it!

Good on you for listening.

[tavernier]

4. I never really understood what a Zen moment was

but that seemed like it may have been.

It was quite an emotional week.

[lamp_shade]

5. Beautifully said, tavernier... I'm a little choked up now.

I'm very emotional these days. Crying comes easy.

[mnmoderatedem]

6. thought maybe it was a trumper trying to remove it

and replace it with a trump flag.

They did that at the Capitol the other day.

[tavernier]

9. I saw that.

That one hurt most of all.

[coti]

7. It's been a pretty wild week when you end up talking to flags.

And you think you hear them talk back.

[denbot]

8. Kick

[lamp_shade]

10. I did a screen cap of your OP and posted it to my facebook.

It just says so much.

[tavernier]

13. ...

[Sugarcoated]

11. Wow...I might use that in a song

if that's okay

[Sugarcoated]

12. Maybe more the premise

[tavernier]

14. I am flattered.

It broke my heart. I guess that translated.

[Sugarcoated]

15. Oh, yeah, it translated

I've sat on my porch countless times over these four brutal sad years staring at our flag, watching it fade in the sun. My husband likes to take it down when appropriate holidays have passed but I've asked him to leave it up...I don't want to take it down for some reason. I've been trying to write a song about those feelings, have written a bunch of verse but it doesn't quite hit the mark. Yes, it is heartbreaking and I would be honored to use your idea, possibly the words in it, it's lovely. I'm a local Philly singer songwriter, one of thousands trying to find some level of success so it may just get heard in coffee shops and friends playlists but I will credit you if you'd like.

[tavernier]

16. No need for credit

but definitely would like to hear the finished product.

Isn’t it funny how a piece of cloth can inspire so many emotions? When Bush sent us to Iraq, I had a hard time looking up at it. I felt a deep rage for what we were doing there, and I didn’t want to fly our symbol at that time. Then on Obama’s Election Day I felt a profound pride in it, and us, once again. And you can imagine my disgust when trump wrapped his arms around it, clenching it in his greasy little hands, all a big lie just to con his followers.

So I’m glad to know I’m not alone when I sometimes imagine this flag as a living thing.