day ONE HUNDRED and SIXTY SIX

independence day

she tells me

to come in for the fireworks

while i’m

wondering if i’ll still have

a job by july

the fireworks are beautiful

she says

as i’m shutting the blinds

and cursing the sun

they come in red and blue

and purple and green

they light up the city

she tells me

while i think about piercing

the tips of my fingers

with a rusty

bobby pin

just for the hell of it

the fireworks will take

care of everything

like the job and the bills

you just need to see

some kind of beauty

in this life

pray and believe in god

she says

while i drink warm beer

wipe away broken glass

and try to untangle the noose

she tells me that the fireworks

spread for miles

they make kids laugh

the adults feel young

all right, all right

i tell her

you’ve won this time

but the next time you call

i’ll be in the closet

wrapped up in a blanket

soaked with gasoline

wondering where

i put the matches

--John Grochalski