Living in the City on the 4th of July

I wake in the morning to screaming in the hallway

Echoing in my room

Oh no! What’s happening?

The neighbor is locked out

She kicks her door causing a loud

Bang! then silence once again as air whooshes through the cracks

Rising I stretch in the morning light

The sun hides behind the clouds

I jump as my furry companion attacks me feet

She runs and hides under the bed

Time to pour some coffee as fireworks crack in the street

Good lord, people! It’s eight am!

Clean up the coffee I spilled on the counter

Then take a drink as another round of noise harks from outside

It’s been hot in the city, but I take a chance and open the window

A cacophony of sound envelopes the room

Sirens from the fire trucks as they race to the scene

The click-clack-whir of the homeless man’s cart

As he shuffles down the street

A car engine revs and races up the road

Leaving a trail of car alarms in it’s wake

What a glorious morning!

The sun begins to peer through the early morning gloom

Warming up the air and waking the rest of the idiots

Er, I mean patriots

More fireworks this time from the direction of the police station

It’s a day of celebration!

In many, many forms.

The sun has warmed too much for most to bear

The homeless couple in the tent prepare themselves for war

They yell and scream throwing clothes and debris in the street

Then one wanders off to find food for them both

It’s a glorious sight to see

A glom of motorcycles roll by,

With flags flapping in the breeze

Their engines roar as if to say,

Hey! Come, look at me.

Another round of car alarms that echo through concrete

I close the window shutting out the heat and sounds

Gather ‘round the barbecue

No hamburgers, a hot dog for me

Spend the day with family and friends

Music, food, and water fights

Trying hard to stay cool

Here it comes once again…

A boomer in the distance

The sun begins to wane

The air begins to cool

As night begins to fall, it is time

Let’s light it up tonight

Red and white and blue the firecrackers crackle

Children laugh and cry

We all lay down upon our backs and watch the sky

As the light show ends, the music fades and people wander off

The air stinks with the odor of gun powder,

I gather up my things and head back inside

My furry friend comes out for me

She no longer tries to hide

I open the window again and listen to the night

Sirens blast and people yell as the moon shines on us all

Slowly the world outside my window

Calms down as everyone goes back to sleep

Another Fourth of July has past

Happy birthday America