Honk for Peace: A Poem from South Carolina

for my dad


driving on the highway
shooting down the 208
(i was going to home depot
needed some screws
and a hammer
to hang some shelving units)
(for the wife)
when i saw some people -
not far up ahead -
holding some signs up
to the drivers
the first one that came into
view
said "HONK TO BRING PEACE TO AFGHANISTAN"
so i honked
and as i honked
the second came into view
and said
"AND STOP AIDE TO ISRAEL"
and i swore at myself - SHIT! -
that my horn had sounded out
and rung for the bigots.

i got back home and told the family about it.
they didn't laugh.