Just to draw you into the spirit,

here comes the parade! Always

a really good sign

of a holiday!

We sat on the porch
As the parade traveled by
Fire engines sirened

                   Then came the horses
                   Saddles studded with silver
                   Prancing a street dance

Clowns flip-flopped about
With flowers squirting water
That carried laughter

                   Marching uniforms
                   Boomed and beat out the rhythm
                   In synchronized steps

Pooches on leashes
One leaving a pool behind
As they strutted on

                   A hula-girl float
                   With a paper maché tree
                   Danced of Hawaii

Elvis in person
Singing about his hound dog
Looking very young

                   A Karate team
                   With colored belts dangling down
                   Kicking at the air

Police black and whites
With whirling lights of orange
The closing salute

                   Smiling spectators
                   First meld and then separate
                   The party’s over

So Grandpa and I
Return to our waiting game
Parades of chessmen