Happy 4th!

Photo curtesy of publicdomainclip-art.blogspot.com

4^TH OF JULY

Deep in the dark, 

after the dogs and burgers, 

the deviled eggs,

the watermelon seed-spitting contest,

after the badminton and high dives,

 the dive back to the

still laden tables,

and the satiated somnolence

that crept over everyone

like a warm blanket -

after all that came the night,

with its anticipation of sky-fire 

and canon boom,

sparklers held at arm's length,

the ooohing and ahhing,

the window-cracking BANG!

of Chinese firecrackers, 

paper and flash powder exploding like stars

deep in the dark.