July 4th

The distant war rages on,
It is controlled but wild,
Violent but peaceful,
Dazzling but inflammatory.

What manner of mayhem,
Clouds the streets tonight?

For the dark distance shimmers with light and fire,
And I hear shots ring out in the urban evening.

The screams of thousands reach me,
Are they wailing?

There are clouds overhead,
But I cannot tell if they are heavy.

I point my chin skyward,
And blindly wait,
For that first,
Extinguishing droplet,
To fall to the ground,
Louder than an explosion,
Before the next firefight,
Plunges a hole through my lonely chest,
And deadens my rebellious brain.