It all turned festive 
and somehow tears flowed 
Reminiscing of all the ones 
I'd knowed...
Grandaddy, Grandma 
nowhere around  
But it was just like when we'd go outta town 
coolers of ice, and somebody brought fish 
the kind me and Grandaddy used to catch with wax worms, 
sanitizer close and 
pure water to keep away germs..
Somebody even brought deer meat 
and we built the pyramid with the charcoal,  
and somebody whipped up potato salad
in Grandma's favorite bowl 
And it was hotter than summer  
even though memories made me cold 
and long for the ones gone..
And never did I think I'd cry 
on the 4th of July.