SuperNova Afterglow: End Of Days

Independence Day 7.4 Prompt

Here in the United States, we're celebrating our independence today. Is this a special day to you? Will you do anything special? Have we as a country forgotten what this day really means? Yes, I know, several questions there. (If you do not live in the United States, please apply this prompt to the day your country celebrates as Independence, or a similar holiday.)
Answer as you wish please.

I could shoot some fireworks, bottle rockets or
Roman candles that shoof! shoof! shoof! Into the night.
I might drink beer, grill thick steak, eat
a slice of watermelon in 92-degree heat
on the front porch step, spit seeds, wave
to passing neighbors, admire sweaty kids
racing bikes into the nearby park.

I could fish.
I could dig and grab a couple squirmy earthworms,
stick them in my tackle box and just go.
But, I probably won't.
A plane will fly over every now and then.
Soon, another night of fireworks
sparking the sky with neon clouds wading
soft like vaporized jellyfish.

We'll sit around a campfire, spray repellent.
My kid will come and go with our truck,
not stay for marshmallows because
they have more fun with summer friends,
If my son takes a brief respite from video games,
he'll eat a cupcake, go back upstairs.
My wife will stir a fire, formerly raging,
after an evening coating our clothes and skin
with a charred remnant that lingers in hair most.

We will sigh
when embers cool and groan to lift
sodden limbs from padded patio chairs
that creak and whine with us in the same metallic effort.

Oh, there were fireworks, to be sure.

The city's display not enticing enough to park,
In a field, view, chill and stay awake under blanket.
Not the same with grown kids with other agendas,
reminded we always did it for them. We
made sacrifices so they
could grow tall and strong and
have reason to smile, reason to feel free,
do as they please, as we
get old.

I think
I'll take time to consider those sacrifices,
the effort to keep us strong, free from tyranny.
And, share that joy with others. Peace to all,
wherever you may find it on a brilliant night.

A poem. I'll write this poem.

Mmm, steak, marinate!