Heroes in Hearses

22

they fought

in the sandboxes they were placed in

defending the weak

driving out shadows

and we only saw

what big brother

and his uncle

wanted to reveal

gossamer sheets

don’t pretty up a crime scene.

22 saw it all

and brought home with them

the fragments of ghosts.

the hauntings chase them now

and turn their mirrors

into sandbox reflections

filling corners of the rooms

with foes once real

that tap them

on their shoulders

keeping them looking behind.

It steals their breath

and their smiles

as they white knuckle grip

for tangible normalcy

that only remains

in picture frames.

They place it all in a jerry can,

bottled,

for fear of domestic enemies

those who have never lived with a ghost

don’t believe

in possession

and they wipe the tears that fall

on a flag that doesn’t

fly

for them

her stars now shine 50 shades

of grave indifference

as they fight the battles of the left behind

no wonder…

no wonder…

22

heroes in hearses

in their mind

choose to lay down their own lives