we saved our money and earned  a bit

with paper recycling carted down the yard



same cart we took the guy down the road



penny for the guy mister sir?



to buy our fireworks



a penny squib cost you know

and

jumping jacks got banned



rockets in bottles, dead ends collected after

sparklers at arms length

light the blue touch paper and retire

back

the word of the time



nail the catherine wheel and hope for the best



such grim anniversaries



sparklers remain for cakes at birthdays

though

celebrations are limited now by health

and safety rules

and group bookings require firemen



thinking

back

remembering

my brother’s panic racing up the flaming fire

to rescue his lumberjack hat



he survived