Sex & Fireworks: a poem

Sex &

Fireworks--

the slow build, the

patience of

anticipation.

Darkening sky &

only silhouettes, bodies

lit in flashes,

appreciative

oohs &

ahhs.

The Grand Finale

comes in under 15 minutes--

no one

is disappointed--

lawn chairs & blankets,

bugspray &

the perfect spot,

all the preparations

only added to

the simple satisfaction--

the show delivered,

building from

slow to fast,

small to big,

finishing off

with a string of brilliant

sound & color

too fast to follow, each

explosion interlacing

with the next &

lasting longer than

expected.

Then-- silence.

Dusky dark blue sky

luminous from within,

trail of floating smoke

carried elegantly away

by the wind, then,

cheers--

tasteful applause

for expectations met,

for a flamboyant expression

of the American Dream.

Then--

cars start up

chairs are folded,

lights turn on,

the magic is over;

everyone goes home to their beds,

sleeps well

all through the night,

arms around

the ones they love.

Happy

4^th of July.

-Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux, 4 July 2011

Gyspy Earth: a poem

She cried at the sink

when we left-- but we

were relieved.

A week of

working through our demons,

family standoffs &

miscommunications.

On to the next town

with our yellow gypsy caravan!

Set up our tents &

put on the show,

bright colors &

sleight of hand

dazzling everyone, even

ourselves-- then,

pull up the stakes

& go again.

Eventually

the wheels will appear

to stop.

Our travels

will appear to be over,

the horizon

within our reach.

But still the world turns,

spinning in her gypsy skirt,

orbiting the ancestral fire

attended by her sisters,

dancing with the gods.

She rests in

her own rhythm,

tsunamis

earthquakes

fires

drought--

they don’t stop her because

living is moving,

only death

lies still,

& only for a moment, then

the worms rise up,

pall bearers to

a worthy grave.

The earth reclaims her own,

buries & renews

herself,

gathers up her people

travels

always

on.

-Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux, 4 July 2011