4th of July Military Appreciation Event

Frances Mac

An erasure of Donald Trump’s remarks on July 4, 2017

what that means 
to celebrate our freedom 
there is a side 
never heard 
the here first 
where america is 
standing 

we have force 
in years 
the old tomb 

unknown 
to every 
serving of free
we lay claim 

a navy roved 
the sphere 
what magnetic 
hope inking 
the lily self 
striking hearts 
our petty fireworks 

gave to rare 
fear watching us 
thankless sacrifice 
there could be 
no wavering mission 
our coming 
always a raid 
after the pearl 
of territory

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Frances Mac hails from the Texas Hill Country and currently lives in Washington, DC. Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming in The MacGuffin, Santa Clara Review, Lammergeier, Lily Poetry Review, and others. “CIA Headquarters” and “4th of July Military Appreciation Event” are part of a book-length collection examining truth-telling in politics through erasures of Donald Trump's remarks and statements. Learn more about her work at www.francesmacpoetry.com.