Early Morning At Riverside Park

Independence Day is over A sweltering night has been gathered up and trucked away The faint fragrance of burnt offering still hangs low ....like sweat, of a long, grey cloak. The park still echos with faint "ooooh's" and "ahhhs"... lingering in the sultry air, and bouncing off the silent bandstand If you try, you can almost hear the High School band, playing tributes to Souza and the homeland flag Where eyes glistened and reflected a night sky alive with fire now, the only sounds are chattering squirrels, as they scurry and nibble on remants of a celebratory feast, hiding in the dewy grass The morning air is cool and the ground is damp Park benches, the bandstand, hilly mounds of grass and playgrounds abandoned, save of their mourning clothes Of candy wrappers, watermelon rinds, mustard coated paper plates Spent sparklers, fire crackers, a lone sneaker... Where just hours ago..music from radios, laughter, cheering, hooting, jeering Deafening man-made thunder made babies cry dogs tremble, children clap their hands over ears Now so silent in this early somber morn The only sound this morning comes from a slight breeze that stirs.... a tossed Pepsi paper cup.... as it clatters a pop, pop, popping tune...as it hops among the dried, brown leaves down a hot, empty sidewalk...