In America: Remember – Betsy Holleman Burke

In America: Remember - Betsy Holleman Burke

Not poppies here but acres of white flags
            seize the morning breeze. By a trick
                        of light a school of menhaden dart

under an ocean of death —
            shimmer, scatter on the wind
                        up the hill, a pod of dolphins flash.

Faceless dead command attention at last
            flags hold names, pictures, entire families
                        a woman wearing angel wings.

Betsy Holleman Burke is passionate about writing poetry and is a member of the Surrey Street Poets in Washington, DC, a wonderfully eclectic group. She published her first chapbook, Searching for Hummingbirds, in 2014, shortly before her marriage to an old friend. Between them they have a delightful extended family. Betsy is a floral designer at both the Washington National Cathedral and Hillwood Museum. Her favorite job was working as a consultant to the National Geographic Society Education Foundation. She is delighted to have her poem published by Front Porch Review.