Independence Day

Groans upon the darkest night
streaking lights up there
rooftop jets defending turf
neighbors pull their hair.

Four pm the siren sounds
two hours to get home
midnight now
nobody sleeps
explosions the new dawn

here's a mountain silhouetted
background orange sky
power to civilian places
gone away it's fried

big bonfire down the street
grabbing what they need
torches fly by on a jeep
keep going there
good-bye

rocks come through the window
 
laser beams arrive
tapping at the basement
dog whines wants to hide
 
All of this not happening
again this year
because

on the Fourth we gather
with fireworks and fuse
explosions in our nature
when time runs out for tools   
     
the tree of liberty survives
we feed it all the time   
impatient for the moment
decides we live or die.