When I was a child

My father used to do this thing

He would throw his hat into the air

And kneel on it wherever it landed

Every time the national anthem was played

He'd cover his heart

He'd pray

And he did sing

Some would smile

Some didn't care

A protest most candid

Sometimes delayed

Can't recall when it did start

Why or in what way

But I remember the feeling when it finally clicked

And I could make sense of it

What it all meant

In the midst of decent

Of the conflict

To depict a moment to contradict what was meant to restrict

What he did and the reaction he got from it

It all made sense

(Poetry)