When the last fireworks finished, and
the little puffs of smoke grayed then disappeared
giving the sky its infinity back,
we could still feel our cells buzzing
-Unreal! someone said. -It was like
so bright my eyes hurt!
People were standing now, their equilibrium
returning. I told my brother-in-law,
a musician, how much the final barrage
sounded like a drum solo to me
-So cool at first then you wish
it would stop already. He smiled, nodded
We throng emptied the field
let ourselves be channeled
like water onto the sidewalk
for the trudge back to our cars
Carrying coolers, blankets, chairs
children
A body loaded up with stuff moves slower,
favors one side. Far as I could see
in front of me, hoards of burdened backs
and shoulders, the cost of free pyrotechnics
My mind summoned the ragged dispossessed,
those extreme victims of war and violent weather
featured every night on the TV
always someplace else
Nothing they loved spared, en masse
moving on foot, numbly onward
-What are you thinking about, my sister asked.
-Refugees, I muttered
I was still a little stoned and I could see it
coming for us as well. Why wouldn’t it?
We detonate, we rubble,
and what once was we allow to crumble
Good poem, KT. I especially like the opening.
Miss you, friend. Thanks for the good words.