Happy Fourth of July

Last night friends

gathered on the porch

perched on the edge of the bluff

over dark water, waiting.

No breeze blew.

Mosquitos feasted on our flesh

and sweat stuck the shirts

to our backs.

No reprieve.

We smiled. Sipped

cool drinks. Breathed.

Sweated. Remembered

our youth before

our bodies and our lovers

had betrayed us, and

we were beautiful and the

future was a bright,

shining possibility.

"When is dusk?"

Dusk. When it's dark.

Too dark to see what's left

of the sun's dying glow.

We smiled through

our pasts and our presents

and raised our glasses

to resilience.

Permanence.

And then the sky

exploded in a brilliant

ballet, light dancing

across the dark.

A celebration that

reminds us that

life is good, after all,

friends are dear

and we all share

a history

that no one can

take away.

I looked

around me.

All I saw was

light and color and

smiles.

*Thanks to Margaret Perkins and Renee Adams for giving Natchez a beautiful, wonderful fireworks display