it’s cloudy today
the 4th of july, 2007
the birth of our nation
a time
to celebrate
our freedom
our pride
in this country
despite the mess
we are in
i love this place so

when I was a child
4th of july was a fun day
filled with sparklers
flags
fireworks
picnics
watermelon
and parades

at night
the streets
in the neighborhood
lit up
with bottle rockets
and ash cans
exploding
a cacophony
of sound
music to my ears
but still I ran and hid
excited, but frightened
by all the noise

my little sister
she always cried
and my dad
would hold her close
and yell at the boys
who got in trouble
for throwing firecrackers
dozens at a time
scaring the little ones
and some of the adults too
danger all around
but we did it every year
this rite of passage
because that’s just
what we did
to celebrate
life was simple then
and so was our joy


I remember july 4th, 1976
the bicentennial
the tall ships in manhattan
the east river
illuminated
by fireworks
extravagant fireworks
everyone waving
and wearing
the red, white and blue
I was 21
and life was grand
and to be lived
to the fullest
to dance in the street
to celebrate

my favorite july 4th
was 1980
it was cloudy
just like today
unusually cold
for the holiday
but we were young
and stuck with our plans
despite the weather
so we sat at the beach
huddled in blankets
and drank beer
until we could barely stand
because that’s what you did
when you were young
and didn't need much
for a celebration

then we went to a party
at Tommy and Sue’s
and drank more
and laughed a lot
until we cried
because jimmy was funny
where is he now?
and mike made us laugh
just standing there
holding his beer
and trying not to fall over
those were the days
they really were

another year
another picnic
in the park
another 4th of july
like fireflies
in the night
they come and go
coolers at the beach
ferries to fire island
sunscreen in your eyes
making memories to last
a lifetime

now
I am content
to stay home
and paint my cupboard
and write my words
and watch my husband
nap on the couch
he'll work tonight
so we’ll fire up the grill
just for two
and hold hands on the deck
if the rain holds out
and make a new memory
for the 4th of July
because it is our celebration
and life is simple
once again