Fireworks Poem by Mary Champion

Soon after dark we gather,
regardless of the weather,
time to celebrate with sound and fury,
with fulgent, fizzing fountains flashing fiery.

A stirring, and astounding display;
With kaleidoscope colours on high,
the hiss as the rockets rise up,
and shoot showering sparks at the top.

A rainbow ravished rain begins to fall
from the inky blackened sky - now feel the thrill
as a barrage of booming
and a salvo of screaming
assault all our senses and shatter
the darkness with fragments of glitter.

Roman Candles, Catherine Wheels,
Kumaru and Crosette shells
Spiders, Horsetails, smoke bombs
colourful Chrysanthemums,
Cobra Tails and Silver Rains,
Havoc, Mayhem, Chaos Mines.
These and many more will burn
In the psychedelic storm.

All too soon, the blaze subsides,
coruscating crimson fades -
Ceasefire! - time to call a truce.
The celebration's only trace -
burnt out cases on the grass,
the sulphurous smell of hell, the loss
of cash expended on this treat.
But worth it for the wild delight
that fed an ancient hunger
deep in our troubled nature.