we had our hometown parade
this rolling cloudy, mostly sunny, humid, hot day
and, in no time, it has us
cheering them marching
there was a car blaring music for
miniature brightly costumed baton spinners
smiling snappy-proud as could be,
people from decorated flatbeds threw handfuls of candy,
big guys in customized '52 Chevy pickups waved,
our fire truck waltzed by and gave a siren blast,
candidates ran from their cars handing out campaign brochures,
the high school band played the spirited school song
my friend ran behind his house to roll up his car windows
the forecast said it would rain later
and then, as bagpipers strode by just starting Anchors Away
the sky opened with an instant deluge
pounding cannons of heavy downpour flooded the street,
candy washed down the drains
everyone ran laughing for shelter under trees and front porches
then two minutes later
the soaked ones continued happily on their warm sloppy trek
parades can't just stop,
and their rides home were a long drizzling walk away
what joy
God love 'em
for showing the best of what little towns are made of,
here's a day i'd gladly live again
Saturday, July 12, 2008
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2 comments:
You and I were once in that parade. We studied(?) music with Mr. (?) in that little back building at St. Petes. I was a cornet player and while I was interested in buzzing my lips to make that horn blow, I wasn't much interested in the music(?) that came out the other end. On parade day, I was thus drafted to play the big bass drum instead. I did a pitiful job but the marching was fun.
Mr. Talbot was our leader.
i think that was the last day i attempted to play a trumpet. that was another parade, another era.
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