Explosions | By Puma Perl

On July 4th, 2020,

my accountant’s partner

called to let me know

my taxes were ready

and then she talked

for a half hour

She seemed very lonely

and asked about my kids

and my dog

I’ve never met her

 

When we finally hung up,

Diva and I walked

down our block

I saw two Puerto Rican flags

and three American ones

attached to a table

set up under a sign

that said “No tables”

 

In the park,

families barbecued

beneath signs reading

“No barbecues”

One group

set up a red grill

on the bandshell

in the middle

of the stage

I don’t know

who was related,

although I assumed

that couples dressed

in matching shirts

were together

Diva sniffed the air

and perked her ears up,

trying to look adorable

enough to be fed

The smell of burgers

tantalized her

Nobody offered to share

so we went home

and she ate her kibbles

and I ate an egg sandwich

 

I never have food

on federal holidays

and this year

was especially lonely

compared to last,

when friends gathered

in an uptown backyard

and Steve Dalachinsky

was there, joking

and complaining

about having to leave early

to catch the fireworks

from Tsaurah’s rooftop,

which, of course, was glorious,

and everything tasted good,

including my contribution

of the cheese and duck sausage

I’d bought that morning

at the Union Square market

 

(The previous year,

I’d shopped at Whole Foods

and selected cupcakes

with patriotic icing

and they melted

on the subway

That’s what I got

for being ironic)

 

July 4, 2020,

dogs hide

underneath furniture

trying to escape

the bombardment

of explosives

that has been ongoing

for weeks

On the Lower East Side

tenement floors rattle

The vets who sit

in wheelchairs

outside Bodega Alley

steel themselves

against battle sounds

 

I don’t care about Macy’s

or the Empire State Building

or the colors in the air

Diva shakes and pants

I shut the windows,

turn up the music,

and lift her onto the couch

She curls up against me

and I cover her

with a soft leopard blanket

as we wait

for it to end

or at least be tolerable.

 

© puma perl, 07/07/2020

 

Puma Perl is a poet and writer, with five solo collections in print. The most recent is Birthdays Before and After (Beyond Baroque Books, 2019.) She is the producer/creator of Puma’s Pandemonium, which brings spoken word together with rock and roll, and she performs regularly with her band Puma Perl and Friends. She’s received three New York Press Association awards in recognition of her journalism, and is the recipient of the 2016 Acker Award in the category of writing. Her most recent books can be found by clicking here.

 

Chelsea Community News is made possible with the help of our awesome advertisers, and the support of our readers. If you like what you see, please consider taking part in our GoFundMe campaign (click here). To make a direct donation, give feedback about the site, or send a Letter to The Editor, email us at Scott@chelseacommunitynews.com.