5th of July

Everyone stands up woozy

survivors of the tilt-o-whirl

the sky is a sneeze 

the city sits cockeyed

the foundation tilted in the night

hotdog reflux burps

sheets stained an uneven pink

fresh bruises radiate a deep blue

the smell of sulfur in the button up shirts

some of the buttons have gone missing

the same with some fingers

a few toes

beer can minefields surround the perimeter

a broken bottle decorates the street

flattened cigarette boxes

enough butts to fill a grave

if you listen close

you can still hear the echos

country songs played through blown boat speakers

classic rock shouted through mesh tank tops

the familiar

although distorted

ring of freedom

three letter chants 

piccolo pete carcasses

Roman candles

Chinese M80s 

Mexican trumpets

good old fashion hoots and hollers

triumph and jean shorts 

sunburns and skinned knees 

the hangover of independence

the rivers are full

sunscreen oil slicks

and bottle caps

fish nibble barf remnants

overcooked and underdigested 

somewhere next to a slain bonfire

an uncooked marshmallow 

crucified on a wire coat hanger

abandoned

it never had a chance to become

more

regrets

broken phone screens

sunglasses to keep the head from falling off

bloody Marys for brunch

and back to work on Monday

because freedom is fun

but not free