Artificial Fires, Dept.

Watching
the National Mall and Hudson River
fireworks and
hearing
"The Stars and Stripes Forever" and "The Caissons Go Rolling Along,"
these songs that introduced
the American Century,
the disconnect between
those times and these,
that America and this.
Like replaying that recording
of your touchdown,
the one that led your high school to the final
at your retirement party.