jolly ranchers like hard candy rain

falling from fire truck height

short shorts and sunburns

flag colored popsicles

ankle thick grass and grilling

beer and soda and cold water

sky without clouds

a day without work

in the middle of the summer

everybody is outside all day

preparing for just after dark

a hush over the hills

the lake glass still

reflecting stars

and soon booming colored fire

picnic blankets popcorn ooh aah

first kisses burnt air barefoot toes

sleeping kids buzzed adults

sugar stained mouths

I’m not sure if everything changed

or if this is just getting older

this used to feel so special

there used to be a magic here

at least until right after

the grand finale

when they let it all good

and lit the mountains up

with momentary man made suns

but now the fire ban is back

and the road is full of Texas plates

and I run a bunch of errands

and put gas in the car

and get ready for work tomorrow

and as the night falls

I see no lights at all

but the one in my kitchen

which I shut off

and go to bed

Alexander Shalom Joseph is a writer from Gilpin County. He is a published author. For more information and to subscribe to Alexander’s Newsletter go to alexandershalomjoseph.com