Memories of the Fourth of July

The Fourth of July
The sound of bag pipes fill the air,
Hands over hearts, with a silent prayer.
Bands are marching, the parade goes by.
Family Surrounds me, it's the 4th of July.
Gather around the food and fun,
Good times are happening under the sun.
Smell the baked beans and Grandma's delicious rolls,
Peanut butter bars, salads, and cold snow cones.
Filled with good food and the day's just begun.
It's Independence Day, there's much more to come.
Time to beat the heat with something cool,
Water fights or swimming with Grandma at the pool.
Refreshing, wet, water everywhere,
It's war with the hose, catch me if you dare.
Volley, kick, hit, or bat the ball,
Steal the flag, launch water balloons to all.
Munch on cherries and candy with good company,
Soon the show begins in the Land of the Free.
Sit back and relax as fireworks light up the sky,
Painted colors fill the night by and by.
The sound of fireworks now fills the air,
Here with family there's much to share.
And as the day concludes, I've got a hunch,
As Grandpa would say, there's not a bummer in the bunch.
-By Mindy Taylor (July 2009)