• Youthful girl in reddened white,
    Flies with a sparkler through the air,
    Perched upon her father's knee,
    Proudly waves to the exploding world,

    "What do you celebrate",
    A thoughtful father asks his child,
    "America," responds in glee,
    "Why," is the simplest of questions,

    "Because mother said,
    That America is strong and good,
    That I should be so proud,
    For the fact we live in a great land,"

    "Well," falls softly from old lips,
    From a tired man, "I suppose that's true,"
    Thinking of waiting and dreaming,
    "But did she tell that other story to you,"

    "Of men who fall down again,
    For no reason, besides the bloodshed,
    Of guns discharged towards,
    The men who used to be neighbors,

    Crazed beasts wearing skin,
    Embarking on blood-filled massacres,
    Fight hand against tooth or nail,
    Hoping only to survive in insignificance,"

    Sparkler burns on dying grass,
    Flees in fright through the sky-lit yard,
    Into warmth of a mother's arms,
    Subtle comfort taken from sweet ignorance,

    "Why would you tell her that,"
    A protective filled mother soon demands,
    "Don't you know it frightened her so,"
    As a child gazes solemnly from swinging doors,

    "Well, I suppose it would,"
    A thoughtful man with wise, old eyes,
    "But then I should tell you,
    That, Darling you're scaring me too."