This poem first appeared at The New Verse News June 24, 2025.
He must've felt proud
seeing his sons become
the thank you he longed
to give a country that made
good on its promise
to realize his dream
of something better,
of peace, of
love.
He must've felt duped
as the pretend defenders
beat him from behind
masks revealing rage
against a world that refuses
to bend under
their godless
hate.
Scott McConnaha 