when i was in college

I had a conversation with my step-father
about flag burning
and
he said
you have the right to burn the flag
if you douse yourself in gasoline
with the flag wrapped around you
and then set yourself on fire
and I answered him
so
the symbol itself
is more important
than everything it represents?


and years later
he recalled the conversation
for some reason
talking about my politics
I think
and
I said
I remember that conversation
very well
it was the day
you told me
a piece of cloth
was worth more than my life


I made him cry