In 1969 we raised a flag
Upon the cratered surface of the Moon
Designed in lieu of gravity and drag
To fly upright despite the cold vacuum
Six missions travelled safely there and back
Transporting six payloads of grey moon crust
And left to stand amid the booted tracks
Six arrows of Apollo fixed in dust
Though US military grade nylon
Solar UV bombards their colored dyes
And after all the astronauts have gone
The lunar flags are quickly bleached to white

And if they should disintegrate to rags
May the same fate befall all flags