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.