The Third
turns into the Fourth
over the course
of one dank
fireworked-up night

We the people
are getting
our tricolor freak on

eating after midnight
(shouldn’t be eating this late)

eating something we shouldn’t
(shouldn’t be eating this)

drinking some corporate poison
(shouldn’t be drinking that)

smoking something
(shouldn’t be smoking)

lighting firecrackers
(shouldn’t even have these) 

and thinking
(shouldn’t be thinking this)
it all might be more fun
with a couple of guns
one for dawn 
one to dream on 

On the Fourth Of July
we remember where
the shooting started
feel like we had a hand in it
and resent being ruled
by descendents
of the shooters

but instead of
thinking about it
too much
we stumble about
slightly paralyzed
by our lifestyles
but glad of the day off
and only vaguely troubled
by the Lone Ranger
patting Tonto’s head
while lifting his wallet
to use the cash 
to buy a second home
in Puerto Rico
while standing his ground
(six shooter in hand)
against the terrible increase
in the horrible number
of black teenagers