Random Acts of Poetry

Fourth of July

The lawn is a crazy quilt of blankets.
Children hop and squeal with sparklers in hand,
their necks are ringed with glowing bands
to prevent them slipping into the night unseen.
The patriots chatter while they wait,
Grandpas in lawn chairs rumble and snore,
Vendors bark their prices trying to sell more,
To the crowd gathered on the green,

The crack of a rocket splits the sky
the babbling of the crowd is hushed.
Every face in anticipation is flushed,
As they hold their collective breath.
Until the burst of light ignites
and spreads out in a sizzling display.
It falls in drops, as if it may
land in the hands of those now deaf.

Racks of ribs rattle with the boom and din
hordes of hearts temporarily stop,
then beating with pride, they pop
into the rhythm of the national hymn.


Written for "PromptMaster !" 

Task Prompt:
Using onomatopoeia, write a poem describing a crowded event. Make at least one sound jarring.