The Fourth of July

It's the fourth of July 

which usually means fun and excitement and cool parades to avoid when driving around 

but this year, 

this year is not a fun fourth of July 

because the current politics don't exactly line up with the whole idea behind the fourth of July

and no one that I know-

more like no one that lives in my state that I know-

is as joyful as we were on other fourth of July's.

What really breaks my heart

and sews it back together

is that when I bike downtown near the coffee shop

I see on the big intersection with Route 7 and some other less name-worthy road

my neighbors

my fellow Vermonters

are lined up on both sides of the road

holding up signs

against ICE

against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named

against everything that has begun

that has returned

in these past six months

and when I see these protests

it brings me warmth

pride

joy

appreciation

to the other Vermonters that pitch in to show their anger

frustration

fury

against the current government

showing support for those that have been harmed

recognizing all that has gone wrong

pushing against walls that should never have been built.

All these thoughts

feelings

emotions

spin and leap and swirl through me

as I think about today

and all of the todays that came before this one

and how the fourth of July

is something that I'll see in a different view

a different perspective

than I had before the walls were built.

Calico Frost

VT

13 years old

More by Calico Frost

  • Wishing upon a satellite

    Darkness

    swallowing up the sunset

    streaks of gold and orange and pink fading to a dark navy blue

    then, finally

    once the sky has been painted over with a seemingly endless coat of black

    the stars come out

  • O Canada

    O Canada

    I am so sorry for what is going on

    I apologize for a lot of people's actions

    to specify, their stupid actions

     

    O Canada

    Vermont sends its condolences

  • Fly away, little bird

    You were a little bird once

    a chick

    fluffy and begging for food

    now you're all grown up

    now you're learning to feed yourself

    now your stretching your wings

    practicing your landings and takeoffs