A Fireworks Poem for the 4th of July

~ Joe Neely

(Please note that there will not be a new poem published next Monday, July 10th. The next new post will be published on July 17th.)

Unpopular Opinion #1

I’ve seen plenty of fireworks –
enough to last a lifetime –
and at this distance
each shell’s explosion
is a punch in the gut,
so I promise the dog
that next year,
before the show begins,
we’ll hop in the car
and go for a long drive.

Photo of 2023 Loch Alpine fireworks by Lisa Pappas,
used with permission.

It is not my intention to be a killjoy. If you like fireworks, enjoy them to your heart’s content. It’s just that after a lifetime of fireworks – hiking through the dunes or going out on the pier in Grand Haven to watch the Coast Guard Festival fireworks, helping my friend Clinton Smith put on Ann Arbor’s fireworks display as a member of the Jaycees in the 1980’s, taking my children to watch fireworks over Little Traverse Bay in Harbor Springs – I’ve had enough. My dog agrees. No mas.

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A New Poem Every Monday
(tho’ sometimes life gets in the way)

Joseph Neely, all rights to original material reserved.


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Published by Joe Neely

7 thoughts on “A Fireworks Poem for the 4th of July”

  1. I have to agree, I’ve seen enough fireworks in my lifetime. I’ve said enough ooohs, ahhhhs, wow the colors are gorgeous, and look at that one.
    Our boys were born and raised in Arizona, the weather was always HOT and after a few 4ths the boys were, DONE.
    Where we live now, we hear them very close. Our dogs whine and shiver, try to get as close as they can and we wear them like sweaters.
    We know if we go out for the 4th, we make sure we are home well before the shelling begins.
    HAPPY 4TH of JULY everyone. 🎆🎇
    Deb Savastano-Kohn

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  3. I think this may be a *popular opinion! I wonder if I’d feel differently if it started at 8 PM and not 10 PM. The loooong wait doesn’t quite seem worth it the older I get.

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  5. Hi Joe, I was out last night and just after I got done cutting the lawn a huge boom and then some smaller ones and my cat Ziggy started running for cover under the vehicles in the driveway. I let him in so he wouldn’t be so scared. I can do without firework as well. I’ve seen enough in my lifetime too. Kenny

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      1. We did the airshow and fireworks for years with the Jaycees before they quit doing them out at the airport

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