87: In Honour Of

That was the spark and the celebration,
dutifully waited for and received
with cheers of pride and nationalism
and anthemic processions so strongly ignored.

Divided we stand and divided we fall
to the unison of gunfire that crosses the world.
While we sit here comfortably in our tension and fear
that seeps over our borders
and keeps us warm.

Those sparkling mushroom clouds ignite
to the delight of us bridled spectators;
intertwining with spheres of colours and
dynamic dynamite exploding
now and then later.

(Without such views
they were merely gunshots
heard in the middle of nights
and hushed-down evenings.)