July 4th

despite birdless skies and foxless lanes
clapping & looking longingly at the hills beyond our windows
with hungry telescopes

on fourth of july
the spectacle
of independently divided peoples
united daily by rhythms of peaceful war
skies lit up with what are
the sounds of bombs.
contradiction, hypocrisy, greed,
blooming into metaphorical nights
phones upturned
faces sagging toward light

to even mention the word
america brings up the crippling potency
of absurdity.