Blue Ridge
Up there on the mountain road, the fireworks
blistered and subsided, for once at eye level:
spatter of light like water flicked from the fingers;
the brief emergent pattern; and after the afterimage bled
from the night sky, a delayed and muffled thud
that must have seemed enormous down below,
the sound concomitant with the arranged
threat of fire above the bleachers.
I stood as tall and straight as possible,
trying to compensate, trying not to lean in my friend's
direction. Beside me, correcting height, he slouched
his shoulders, knees locked, one leg stuck out
to form a defensive angle with the other.
Thus we were most approximate
and most removed.
In the long pauses
between explosions, he'd signal conversation
by nodding vaguely toward the ragged pines.
I said my children would have loved the show.
He said we were watching youth at a great distance,
and I thought how the young
are truly boring, unvaried as they are
by the deep scar of doubt, the constant afterimage
of regret—no major tension in their bodies, no tender
hesitation, they don't yet know
that this is so much work, scraping
from the self its multiple desires; don't yet know
fatigue with self, the hunger for obliteration
that wakes us in the night at the dead hour
and fuels good sex.
Of course I didn't say it.
I realized he watched the fireworks
with the cool attention he had turned on women
dancing in the bar, a blunt uninvested gaze
calibrating every moving part, thighs,
breasts, the muscles of abandon.
I had wanted that gaze on me.
And as the evening dwindled to its nub,
its puddle of tallow, appetite without object,
as the men peeled off to seek
the least encumbered consolation
and the women grew expansive with regard—
how have I managed so long to stand among the paired
bodies, the raw pulsing music driving
loneliness into the air like scent,
and not be seized by longing,
not give anything to be summoned
into the larger soul two souls can make?
Watching the fireworks with my friend,
so little ease between us,
I see that I have armed myself;
fire changes everything it touches.
Perhaps he has foreseen this impediment.
Perhaps when he holds himself within himself,
a sheathed angular figure at my shoulder,
he means to be protective less of him
than me, keeping his complicating rage
inside his body. And what would it solve
if he took one hand from his pocket,
risking touch, risking invitation—
if he took my hand it would not alter
this explicit sadness.
The evening stalls,
the fireworks grow boring at this remove.
The traffic prowling the highway at our backs,
the couples, the families scuffling on the bank
must think us strangers to each other. Or,
more likely, with the celebrated fireworks thrusting
their brilliant repeating designs above the ridge,
we simply blur into the foreground,
like the fireflies dragging among the trees
their separate, discontinuous lanterns.
poem by Ellen Bryant Voigt
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Fireworks
Once I was cold
But now I know
How a fireworks
'Cause I felt the flame
It drove me insane
Fireworks
There was this lady
Soft as as a gentle glow
She told me everything
That she knows
About fireworks
She's got fireworks
Now on the fourth of July
By the riverside
There was fireworks
And by her dark green eyes
I was hynotised
By her fireworks
She lit a fuse in the
Dark of the night
Then I got off
Like dynamite
On her fireworks
She's got fireworks
A million colors shooting
Across the sky
Moment any man
Could fantasize
Ahw.. Fireworks
Got fireworks .. Ahw..
--- Instrumental ---
Now I'm meeting her here
But she's dis-appeared
And took her fireworks
She burning up someone
With her fever and fun
And her fireworks
Some lucky man is gonna
Need her so
And when he does
I know he's gonna know
Her fireworks
She's got fireworks
Fireworks
A candle burning at both ends
Fireworks
Hotbed of coal... Ahhh..
Fireworks
Fireworks
Fire, fire
Fire, fire
Fireworks
Fireworks
Hot as coal... Ahhh..
Fireworks
Fireworks
Fire, fire
Oh, Oh,,,
Fireworks
Fireworks
Hot bed of coal...
song performed by by Alabama
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Welcoming The New Year
Up into the midnight air, Chinese lanterns lift;
Away, across the miles, they now silently drift.
I gaze up at their orange flickering lights,
Until they slowly disappear out of sight.
I stand on tiptoes at my bedroom window,
Intently watching this spectacular show.
I’m so determined not to miss a single thing;
More and more fireworks, each minute brings.
I turn my head this way and that,
As though I was at a tennis match.
Fireworks are launching all over the place;
Up, into the sky, they now rapidly race.
Small birds twitter in the tall trees nearby;
Unable to understand happenings in the sky.
In the distance, I can hear some loud cheers.
People stagger past, having had some beers.
Sparkling silvery stars fill the night sky,
But, sadly, it isn’t long before they die.
Fireworks explode to my right and my left;
When they’re all over, I feel quite bereft.
The fireworks last for an hour or more;
The Chinese lanterns, I’d never seen before.
An hour later, the night sky is almost dead.
Having greeted the New Year, I go to bed.
poem by Angela Wybrow
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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4th of July
Ahh,4th of July
A wonderful holiday for everyone in America
Tis’ the day when we got independence finally!
Fireworks on display in the sky.
Bam, there goes a star!
Whoosh, there goes a flag!
Click, there goes a heart!
Man, its fun celebrating this holiday!
Awww, fireworks are over!
Oh well, can’t wait to see the next years’ fireworks!
I’m sure it’s going to top this years’ fireworks!
I’ll always love 4th of July no matter what.
Fireworks are surely the best of this holiday for it represents our freedom!
poem by Casey Lyon
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Big Hand
The big hand makes all of your favorite things
Like all your dreams go small
And all your friends run away
Until your memories fall
And the words don't fit
But the way the big hand smiles
You just won't care about it
The big hand makes all of your favorite things
Like all your days run out
And your hopes disappear
And your smiles just stop
And your eyes go dead
And the shadows start to crawl
In the back of your head
But when the big hand speaks
It's like fireworks and heaven
So you listen don't think
And wish for nothing at all
And when the big hand sings
It's like fireworks and friends
Leaving alone i'm not leaving alone
I'll never leave alone again
So when the big hand holds up all of your favorite things
And with a touch like glass starts to squeeze
You don't ask "why me?"
You just slip to the floor
You just slip to your knees
But when the big hand speaks
It's like fireworks and heaven
So you listen don't think
And wish for nothing at all
And when the big hand sings
It's like fireworks and friends
Leaving alone
I'm not leaving alone
Leaving alone never leaving alone
I'll never leave alone again...
song performed by by Cure
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Impromptu Fireworks
As, from our local rail station, we made our way,
We were treated to an impromptu firework display.
Upon spying this spectacle, our journey, we briefly stopped,
As fireworks whizzed and whistled and banged and popped.
We just happened to be passing on by,
When, into the sky, we saw fireworks fly.
The display, to us, was totally unexpected;
On my face, excitement could be detected.
We saw many decorative designs of silver, green and red:
One, of which, reminded me, of a seeded dandelion head.
There were many lovely patterns for us to see,
And we saw this amazing spectacle, all for free.
The display had been organised by the local church,
But, onto nearby railings, some people were perched.
We were stood on the opposite side of the road,
As, one by one, the fabulous fireworks flowed.
We had an uninterrupted view, from where we were stood;
I thought the fireworks, that we saw, were really rather good.
All too soon, came the big finale of the firework display,
And after the final big bang, to home, we made our way.
poem by Angela Wybrow
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Brooklyn Fourth of July 2007
Firecrackers, boom, boom, boom
all sound off with the light of the moon.
Looking up in the sky,
color bursts a mile high.
Zooming towards the water below,
all four bridges sparkle and glow.
This all happens like synchronicity,
looks so smooth with simplicity.
The Spectacular of Macy’s Fireworks display
is worth seeing by the bay,
if you happened to be up that way,
to celebrate independence day.
Try to get on a building rooftop fast,
Fireworks great but won’t last,
Take pictures if you can,
of this Macy’s Fireworks Spectacular
which is grand.
poem by Christina Sunrise
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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FireWorks (Jesus Jones Remix)
I once knew a girl
I can't remember her name but I remember her face
cos her sister looked the same.
They both left school, but they couldn't find a job
So they said farewell and stole a small town car.
As they were riding by the beach some summer night
The radio shouted out one of those songs that might just change
your life
- It went like this:
"Checkin' in checkin' out
Making love I like watching all your fireworks
I like it when I light those stars in your eyes
Just like fireworks in the sky"
- yes it did...
Throwing some poems to the ports and docks
They were sleeping outdoors pushing all their luck.
They sent me a letter full of pills and thrills
Then they both got rich and moved to Hollywood Hills.
Yea they made lots of money playing folk guitar
Cos everywhere the boys went crazy just to hear these words of art:
"Checkin' in checkin' out
Take it to the sky
Making love I like watching all your fireworks
I like it when I light those stars in your eyes
Just like fireworks in the sky".
They're coming to get you
They're coming to get you now
Coming to get you nowWatch the sky!
song performed by by Roxette
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Brooklyn Fourth of July 2007
Firecrackers, boom, boom, boom
all sound off with the light of the moon.
Looking up in the sky,
color bursts a mile high.
Zooming towards the water below,
all four bridges sparkle and glow.
This all happens like synchronicity,
looks so smooth with simplicity.
The Spectacular of Macy's Fireworks display
is worth seeing by the bay,
if you happened to be up that way,
to celebrate independence day.
Try to get on a building rooftop fast,
Fireworks great but won't last,
Take pictures if you can,
of this Macy's Fireworks Spectacular
which is grand.
Written by Suzae Chevalier on April 20,2011
poem by Suzae Chevalier
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Fourth Of July
she just called
from L.A.
It is the fourth
of July
a holiday and
true
as william
describes
it, the colors
of red
blue
yellow
orange
green
andeven
gold
glow
in the
dark skies of
liberty
fireworks
it is all
fireworks
nothing
but fireworks
she calls
they just
stay inside
the house
where the
white senior
citizen
is sleeping
and they
hope that
she may
not wake
up
and ask
them
what are
they doing?
who are
they
and why
they are
still
laughing
despite
the cold
wind
blowing
outside
the window
panes
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Fireworks
I once knew a girl / I cant remember her name but I remember her face cos her sister looked the same.
They both left school, but they couldnt find a job / so they said farewell and stole a small town car.
As they were riding by the beach some summer night / the radio shouted out one of those songs that might just change your life / - it went like this: checkin in checkin out / making love
Ke watching all your fireworks / I like it when I light those stars in your eyes / just like fireworks in the sky / - yes it did...
Throwing some poems to the ports and docks / they were sleeping outdoors pushing all their luck.
They sent me a letter full of pills and thrills / then they both got rich and moved to hollywood hills.
Yea they made lots of money playing folk guitar / cos everywhere the boys went crazy just to hear these words of art: checkin in checkin out / take it to the sky / making love I like wat
All your fireworks / I like it when I light those stars in your eyes / just like fireworks in the sky.
Theyre coming to get you / theyre coming to get you now / coming to get you now / watch the sky!
song performed by by Roxette
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Big Hand
The big hand makes all of your favourite things
Like all your friends looks small and all your feelings are gone
And the flowers on the wall
And the words don't fit
But the way the big hand smiles you just won't care about it
The big hand makes all of your favourite things
Like all your dreams go small and all your friends run away
And the flowers on the wall
And the flowers in the sun
I think the big hand sees all the things that you've done
But when the big hand speaks it's like fireworks or heaven
And so you listen and sob
But you're as small as you go
And when the big hand sings it's like fireworks and friends
Leaving alone you said
I'm leaving alone
Leaving alone you said i'm leaving alone
The big hand leaves off makes sure everything's clean
And with a voice like glass looking outwards
Walks past
I dream
It's falling away
I sob
And when the big hand speaks it's like fireworks or heaven
And you listen and sob
But you're as small as you go
And when the big hand sings it's like fireworks or friends
Moving away you said
I'm moving away
Leaving alone you said
I'm leaving alone
Leaving alone you said
I'm leaving alone
song performed by by Cure
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Strange Night
Strange sights are in the night,
Showering the eyes with complete light.
They say weird tales, causing fear by it,
But there has been a coast of well-being.
Burning, with the flames in the air,
Carries a plight, one of the hazards of the night,
It is a bonfire, thank you, with beautiful lights -
Fireworks! Fireworks of Bonfire Night!
Guy Fawkes is the strangest man I have ever met.
poem by Naveed Akram
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Taming The Tiger
I stepped outside to breathe the air
And stare up at the stars
Big dipper hanging there
Over the rented car
Over the rented car
Im a runaway from the record biz
From the hoods in the hood and the whiny white kids
Boring!
The old man is snoring
And Im taming the tiger
(you cant tame the tiger)
Tiger, tiger burning bright
Nice, kitty kitty
Tiger, tiger burning bright
Sophia says its hard to catch
And harder still to ride
The time to watch the beast the best
Is when its purring at your side
Purring at your side
Accolades and honors
One false move and youre a goner
Boring!
The old man is snoring
And Im taming the tiger
(you cant tame the tiger)
Tiger, tiger burning bright
Nice, kitty kitty
Tiger, tiger burning bright
In the forest of the night
The moon shed light
On my hopeless plight
As the radio blared so bland
Every disc, a poker chip
Every song just a one night stand
Formula music, girly guile
Genuine junkfood for juveniles
Up and down the dial
Mercenary style
I watched the stars chuck down their spears
And a plane went blinking by
And I thought of anna
Wild and dear
Like fireworks in the sky
Fireworks in the sky
Im so sick of this game
Its hip, its hot
Lifes too short, the whole things gotten
Boring!
The old man is snoring
And Im taming the tiger
(you cant tame the tiger)
Tiger, tiger burning bright
Nice, kitty kitty
(boring!)
Tiger, tiger burning bright
(you cant tame the tiger)
Oh, be nice, kitty kitty
(boring!)
Tiger, tiger burning bright
Nice, kitty kitty
(boring, boring!)
Tiger, tiger burning bright
(fight to the light, fight to the light)
In the forest of the night
song performed by by Joni Mitchell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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This New Year...
outside there will more explosions
what they say, the evil spirits are driven away,
by the bridge of our desires,
colored lights and magnificent display
shall all these fireworks achieve
i will be inside the room with you
not watching any TV
we love somehow, more than we they explode
inside our hearts
we shall give more what July 4 can ever achieve.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Bonfire Night
How eager are the children as they look up into the sky,
Reacting to a theatre of sound, colour and light,
A euphoria of expectation, the holding of breath,
The lighting of the bonfire, on top sits the awesome guy,
The igniting in the centre, then the flames that glow so bright,
And in all this heat the guy will meet his death.
The sudden whoosh as the bonfire now takes front stage,
The roaring flames devouring the stack with energy so strong,
Heat growing with each lick from those great feasting tongues,
Crackling, spitting, shooting sparks, turning violent with rage,
A deep orange glow reflected in the faces of the staring throng,
Smoke rising into the hair, the eyes, the nose and then the lungs.
With the fireworks carefully set up, the show can now begin,
With noise from all the pyrotechnics, assailing the ears,
What brilliant hues flash before illuminated lively eyes,
The cheering becomes louder, quickly rising to a din,
Then the cold night enfolds your body as midnight nears,
And the mighty fire, mighty no longer, crumbles and dies.
A pile of ash is all that is left,
The bonfire, guy, fireworks, all are gone,
Like a dream, into your memory.
poem by Ernestine Northover
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Cost of Freedom
The night was cold,
But with bodies hot and roaring to go,
The skies black, filled with smoke and, lit with fire works,
But not the ones you want to see.
The 20 year old man writes to his love on a hard rock,
Telling her everything is alright and it’s over,
Now he can come home in peace.
30 years ago today, Jake sat on that bolder,
Witting a letter to a women that would become his wife.
Sipping his coffee, the clock strikes 8 am,
He knows its November 10, Th
The day of too many.
They had gone to bed for the night,
In steel bunkers, fires put out, and blankets over their bodies,
Guards right out side, so they can sleep all night without a fright.
Waking them all from dreaming in warm beds,
Was one more show, one more fight,
The enemy fireworks took many lives that night,
And within the presents of dawn,
Came the digging of many unmarked friends graves,
The friends that fought side by side for all those months,
Those same soldiers that will never make it home in peace.
Timer went off to get the cookies out of the oven,
Jake smiles, wipes the tears away from his eyes,
And says “these are for you Brad, you my best friend.
My war hero that didn’t come home in peace.
I am sorry your grave was one that was dug,
And for I bare the shovel.
One day we will walk side by side again.”
He knows the cost of freedom! Do you?
P.S.
thank you to all the men and women that made\make it so I can be free. thank you so much.
poem by Mrs. Cynosure
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Almost Independence Day *
I can hear them calling way from Oregon
I can hear them calling way from Oregon
And it's almost Independence Day
Me and my lady, we go steppin' (we go steppin')
We go steppin' way out on China town
All to buy some Hong Kong silver
And the wadin' rushing river (we go steppin')
We go out on the, out on the town tonight
I can hear the fireworks
I can hear the fireworks
I can hear the fireworks
Up and down the, up and down the San Francisco bay
Up and down the, up and down the San Francisco bay
I can hear them echoing
I can hear, I can hear them echoing
Up and down the, up and down the San Francisco bay
I can see the boats in the harbor (way across the harbor)
Lights shining out (lights shining out)
And a cool, cool night
And a cool, cool night across the harbor
I can hear the fireworks
I can hear the people, people shouting out
I can hear the people shouting out (up and down the line)
And it's almost Independence Day
I can see the lights way out in the harbor
And the cool, and the cool, and the cool night
And the cool, and the cool, and the cool night breeze
And I feel the cool night breeze
And I feel, feel, feel the cool night breeze
And the boats go by
And it's almost Independence Day
And it's almost, and it's almost Independence Day
Way up and down the line
Way up and down the line...
song performed by by Van Morrison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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New Year 2009
New Year Eve 2009
Midnight, New Year, fireworks explodes on
velvety sky. Gaza has fireworks too every day,
but they aren’t enjoying it the way we do,
standing here on the terrace of a five star hotel,
perhaps it is only three stars, drinks in hand
and idle chat. I feel wretched, wish I was drunk
but this place only severs wine and that is not
enough to drown my lack of shame.
Palestine, Europe doesn’t cry for you tonight.
poem by Oskar Hansen
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Rockin Into The Night
Cruisin' down the motorway,
Got my girl by my side.
We're both a little anxious,
Ooo we got love on our mind.
Waitin', anticipatin'
For the fireworks in the night.
Well I swear we were doin' eighty
When we saw those motel lights.
And we were rockin' into the night,
Rockin' into the night,
Oo hoo rockin,
Rockin' into the night,
Rockin' into the night,
Yeah... Out on the back street,
Taking love where I can,
I found a sweet madonna
Ooo with a bible in her hand.
She's waiting,
Anticipating well,
For someone to save her soul;
Well I ain't no new messiah,
But I'm close enough for rock and roll.
And we were rockin' into the night,
Rockin' into the night,
Oo hoo rockin,
Rockin' into the night,
Rockin' into the night.
And I'm slowin' down
And she's pullin' in
Waitin' anticipatin'
For the fireworks in the night.
Well I swear we were doin' eighty
When we saw those motel lights.
We were rockin',
Rockin,
Into the night,
Ooo yeah
Rockin into the night,
Rockin into the night,
Hoo rockin'!
song performed by by 38 Special
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Fireworks At Night
Fireworks at night,
What a wonderful sight,
They are set off down low,
Then explode up high,
They are so beautiful to see
against the dark night sky.
They are so beautiful at night,
But in the day, not quite,
So when you get your own,
Dont set them off when light,
dont set them off at day
cause they really dont look nice
Set them off at night when the moon is high,
Set them off against, the dark night sky.
Oh, fireworks at night
It's a beautiful sight!
poem by Tess Lockey
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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