Independence Days

hotdogs and beer

pool parties and fireworks

sweaty summer afternoons

nights steamy or chilled

 

incongruous connections

to freedom

 

hotdogs do not

equalize privilege

among citizens

just stomaches

 

beer certifies

the ludicrosity

of belief

in inalienable rights

 

striving for our birthrights

of upwardly mobile

hearty grain fed

prosperous equality

we spark

brilliant and fiery

pop pop pop

 

your sons and daughters

sisters and brothers

lovers and frenemies

crane their necks

behind barred windows

contorting for a glimpse

of light

glittery sparkling

 

they eat hotdogs

boiled and dried out

tripling as holiday fare

haute cuisine

nutrition

multiple bangs

for your buck

 

they dare not

fantasize

of cool pool dips

while showering

publicly

hurriedly

naked and afraid

 

they swagger

with bravado

walking gauntlets

pretending

dustups, scuffles

tortuous assault

do not scar

when they alight

wayward sparks

night after night