That's Life?

Red White and blue Stripes and stars jerkily rise to the top of the pole. Stop wave in the wind flap flap flap Then still unfurled lower slowly Colors contrasting with misted greens in back ground trees Stopping at half mast To hang waving toward the waiting earth His hands wrap the lanyards fast Close the cover Slip on the clasp then drop to his thighs. Three hornets Wing out of the box swirl ignored around his head Then return to enter under the re closed door. For his absent friend Death has begun to Firmly settle in.