One Summer Night in Seattle

I wrapped the Stars 'n Stripes
around my head like I'd been
trepanned

Got up on stage between sets
took the mike 
& performed the National Anthem
in chicken

It was nice
Nobody yelled, "Speak English!"

With a series a guttural clucks n squawks 
& in tune, more or less, with say, Beyonce, like 
just before the Super Bowl

The punk rockers at the Dog Pound
who came to see 13 Dollars
& Mr Smithers
didn't recognize me

I was just another 
flightless animal

by the end of it they were all
standing at
attention,
baseball caps held over their hearts