"you and i were fire,
fire; fireworks"*

yesterday there were celebrations.
i stuck my head out of the window
and watched the parades on the street.
people of every race, religion, and gender,
dancing around in red white and blue.

some guy threw a stone at my window
and shouted, "it's the fourth of july!" i don't
know what he expected me to do, run
out of my house with a firework? i don't need
to look at the flag to see stars. they ring in my
head anyway.

you used to hold my hand and
let me lean my head on your shoulder and
we would watch fireworks together.
one year i was out of town and you sent me
pictures of the fireworks and told me
you wished i was there with you.

that was long ago.

i closed my windows to block out the noise.
i didn't really want to celebrate
if i wasn't celebrating with you.