Roger Lee Ivens,”Flag”, Mixed Media

Kelly DeMaegd
IF I WERE THIS FLAG
after “Flag” by Roger Lee Ivens aka “Ab The Flagman”

You would not check the box on the form
that labels me Caucasian,
turns a blind eye to the mystery,
plentitude, contradiction

that distinguishes me. Like this flag,
my warp and woof is of manifold
heft. I am chair rung, table leg,
bolt, brad, yoke, wood, tin, aluminum.

Scraps of experience, heartache,
triumph, disappointment, love
assembled into a strong, cohesive
whole. There would be no quarrel

over color. I am red, white, blue.
Color of hardiness, innocence,
perseverance. Color of blood, bone, vein.
Proud colors of shared heritage.

Kelly DeMaegd reads “If I Were This Flag” on June 21 at the Hickory Museum of Art.
Photo courtesy of Roger and Ginny Sanford