The Fifth of July





Yesterday, all day,
my border
collie cowered
near me,
even as I peed.
The rockets and bombs
of celebration
were too much
for her.
As this country shook
off its filthy,
damp coat,
a spray of astonishing
aggressiveness,
the heat kept us indoors.
Once I walked
out to see
where the noise came from.
Above me
a shower of color quickly
descended to
earth, and was extinguished,
and, for a moment,
everything stopped.

Corey Mesler's poetry, fiction, and reviews have appeared in countless publications, including Yellow Silk, Pindeldyboz, Mars Hill Review, Pikeville Review, Center, Small Press Review, Jabberwock Review, Rattle, Orchid, Quick Fiction, Timber Creek Review, Green Egg, Poetry Motel, Drought, Parnassus Literary Review, Wavelength,, among others. With his wife he owns Burke's Book Store, one of the country's oldest (127 years) and best independent bookstores.
E-mail: resolemcrey@yahoo.com


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