new american flag

ruby ridge, the last stand off
the sun going down, venus in the west
between two outcroppings of granite
twice the size of a man, gateposts, gaping.

you stand with your comrads, arms
loaded with the second ammendment
rocky style. the facts do not matter
this is for history. you raise your arms
in victory , no surrender to the bullet
ballet thru your flesh; pan in







as one bullet enters the carotid artery
follow the stream of blood out
as it fractals, hologrammatic, across
the space between the posts,expanding
in tinier and tinier droplets, streaking
like  laser stripes
between  border posts.

stop motion. 
red ribbons stretching for the monoliths
  no trees, black rock
waiting for the  benediction
venus winks in the upper left corner
of the frame