it was after
the division of the country
and the great war
and after they were dragged
on that rocking ship
and loving men
from dysentery and disease
and shameless
courageous sacrifice
they they received space
an equal space
in those armed forces
along men with guns
pointed at them and the enemy
as the enemy
they are black
and red
and white
and blue
they are tattered
and torn
and sewn together
with white men hair