Back to birthdays. How about our nation’s birthday?
How many of the five senses can I cram into one poem? And how many “s” words?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, USA!
by April Halprin Wayland
Set down the straw basket,
unhook Buster’s leash,
toss him the flexed frisbee!
Help spread
this fuzzy blanket
across the grass.
Bite into a big, red strawberry,
wolf down a chunk of white banana,
toss plump blueberries into your mouth!
See the sun
go down
and the blackness fold around.
Look up!
Red! White! Gold!
Spiraling,
S
xL
xxI
xxxD
xxxxI
xxxxxN
xxxxxxG,
Swirling
Spinning,
S * P * R * E * A * D * I * N * G,
crisscrossing the sky
like stirred
stars.
Whoosh, whistle, hiss!
Tat, tat, pop!
Crackle, boom, bang!
Spit, sizzle, fizz…
smell the smoke-
what a night!
What a DAY!
Happy birthday,
USA!
© by April Halprin Wayland 2010 all rights reserved
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