Daver Austin Poet Narrative

July Fourth

JULY 4TH

I hate to say it    but
“In the old days –
        (will all the ancient folk ever tire of retelling?)
July 4th was a big BIG day!
Up at crack-of-dawn    if you were a kid
With red salutes
           4 inches round
                                 6 inches long
You could blow a tin can as high as the phone wires
Bounce torpedoes off the neighbor’s brick garage

Few ever complained because most everyone was doing it
Except for Hattie and Maude
            two ancient sisters who lived behind their broken 
                down    green     board fence
They complained – said the kids collapsed their stupid
        broken down    green    board fence
          (which everyone knew had been leaning for years)
 ‘Done it with them there awful fire crackers’ said Maude
‘You better believe it!’ said Hattie

At night the little ones were out on the front lawns
    whirling sparklers    clear on down the block

The city sky was a riot of showering colors 
                                             clear on downtown
And the NOISE!
If there’s been a band around
    Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever would’ve drowned
No    it was one continuous canons blasting –
                       the end of 1812 

Around about 10: P.M.     just after dark
The little ones    spent    and in spite of the noise
Dropped onto their beds    too tired to even undress

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Andrea Dietrich July 5, 2010 at 12:28 PM WAs 1812 another reference to your age, DAver? heeheehee. (JUST kidding) You know I love you!!! THis is awesome writing, my good friend. Here was my favorite line: The city sky was a riot of showering colors (I just love when you use lines like that) Keep writing, and never never grow up or grow old! LUv, Andrea

Elaine George July 5, 2010 at 10:43 AM We have the same celebration on a different day here in Canada, but I celebrate July 4th too. Thanks for brining back the mmories. My favorite firework was one called 'The School House'. How we loved to watched it fly into the night sky and explode in a shower of sizzling, fizzling sparks that turned to ashes on the ground. Love, Lainie

Carolyn Devonshire July 4, 2010 at 8:38 AM I'd like to think the kids helped those grumpy old ladies repair their fence, but kids are kids. This was a fun trip back to yesteryear, Daver. Though my parents never let us near fireworks, many neighborhood children created lots of noisy explosions that surely would have drowned out the Stars and Stripes. Have a fantastic holiday, Daver! Love, Carolyn

Carrie Richards July 4, 2010 at 8:06 AM I felt as if I were watching those old ladies in a movie....I can just see those pinched up faces, scowling at those kids, and the kids...one with red hair maybe? and the other with a cowlick, and his little brother with freckles wearing huge eyes, having the time of their lives...ahhh....what a wonderful picture you have painted!! Like a Norman Rockwell....loved this!!!!! :)

Poet Destroyer A July 4, 2010 at 5:56 AM wow! what a 4th memory,, how about the little history here nice story Daver A., really enjoyed you sharing this with us..on this lovely day..As for me i will be in bed by 10:00p.m. no chance of celebrating.. we got rained out...have a nice 4th of July,,, and stay of of I- 75,..yae care,..Sidney LeeAnn