The Fourth of July

(with apologies to Francis Scott Key)

When I look at the sky 
after sundown tonight 
all the children and I 
will be pointing and screaming 
at the fireworks being launched 
to our left and our right 
it will seem like a dream 
but I'll know we're not dreaming 
Something precious and rare 
is alive in the air 
it's a ritual that we 
as a nation can share 
we all know when those fireworks 
are lighting up the sky 
in the land of the free 
it's the Fourth of July