[Following my poem for St. George’s Day, I seem to have started off on a series on the subject of national flags. This one popped suddenly and surreptitiously up into my mind tonight in a single gulp.]

The cross is a human body

with hands and feet cut off

and pinned on the canvas of a flag,

diagonally;

bleached bones and emaciation

on a background of blues

against blue skies;

incorporated,

like a jolly roger,

in navy blue,

by union jack.