what is it that
happens july 3rd
when you spend
its night outside
under a mound
of fleece blankets
and long branches
and you find that
there are limbs
fleshy digits
dirty fingerprints
that are not your own
do you scratch your scalp
and shake your head as if
searching for empty change
now luckily
the sun peeks through the spokes
of the bird nests and makeshift beds
and it bathes your body w/ relief
last night becomes a little less hazy
and you find that these limbs are
the same
legs that
ambled
their way
to your
front door
the arms
that pushed
tree trunks
to make room
for a hammock
they are friendly limbs
that pick you up
when you want to fall
they lend their weight
as a buttress when you
cannot go on alone
anyway
i told you
the sun is here
have a firecracker popsicle
there are burgers to flip
and sparklers to dance w/
mangoes
to puncture w/ straws
and nectar to drink
grass to roll around in
stray hairs to not care about
fingers to splay across the dirt
a boy to kiss and family members to hug
don’t let the patties burn
i bought potato buns because
i know you love those
and you know that i love you
now have a happy fourth of july
Sylvia Simioni believes in bacon or avocado or even a fried egg for her burger.
