July 4th Private Celebration

Our backyard Whirlwind of summer firefly Embers Stirs up From the long graves of grass By the sprawling brooms of July 4th fireworks Booming distant in the furled sky Up high The fire flies swirl to tree tops Breadcrumb stars for swooping bats Too many blinks to be gulped whole Let it go Paths split Thunder fades to echoes Consciousness is everywhere So plentiful Our heads tilt Broken from their podiums Like vandalized statues Knees cracked ribs lanced Still upright in the gallery of this summer My wife and I Hands freed from our marble robes Hold together a single sparkler Gaze to you Private Quiet Uncertain future.