The Fifth of July, 2020

For Anselm Berrigan

work like miasma             fount of boundless energy

un lifted                 the weekly cross carrying           candles out

more tomorrow


 what of it
 when will it be


rockets

candles

fire


fire

candles

rockets

miasmic       beat beat beat the beat beat beat


sky lashed clouds     watery rage ready for release

rain thunder lightning summer’s heartless mares     roaring skies

O say how we be         O say what we be

O say can we be              O say

Can we be

Free
Notes:

“The Fifth of July, 2020” from The Beloved Community, copyright 2023 by Patricia Spears Jones, used by permission of Copper Canyon Press, www.coppercanyonpress.org.

Source: Poetry (October 2023)