that brings a nation to its knees.
What's that unfurling from a pole?
It's just a piece of cloth
That makes the guts of men grow bold.
What's that rising over the tent?
It's just a piece of cloth
that dares the coward to relent.
What's that flying across a field?
It's just a piece of cloth
that will outlive the blood you bleed.
How can I possess such a cloth?
Just ask for a flag my friend.
Then blind your conscience to the end.
This last sentence could refer to patriotic people, including soldiers. The word ‘blind’ suggests self-delusion and deliberate disregard of the brutal consequences of war. The loss of ‘conscience’ shows the loss of moral judgement of those who are overtaken by patriotic fervour. 
 Throughout the poem the subject matter becomes increasingly personal and by the end second person pronouns “you” and “your” are used.  Agard is saying that everyone can be manipulated, can be susceptible to patriotic propaganda.  The aim is to make the reader aware of the process in themselves; to force us to think about our responsibilities and the consequences of blind reverence for one’s country and the dangers of warmongering.
Flag