Frosty Firecrackers Poem by John W. McEwers

I recall a moment
'twas not but fifteen
when my father returned
from the bar

he said, son come see
daddy's present for you
and he held out
his long, rigid arms

inside each his hands
were placed many things
like a lighter,
an M-80,
and a jar.

He said combine all these things
for a lov-a-ly time,
just be sure to run very far

But his laughs drowned the ringing
and the full body stinging
of glass shards that had done me harm.

I was sixteen when he died
and in a winter's cold night
I threw that lighter toward the stars.