On any day worth celebrating,

not one filled with jingoistic pride

in which by virtue of having a bigger gun,

a more powerful machine, a more sturdier device

which you reached for the safety first and dangled

the instrument of possible torture around

threatening to put at least one load between the eyes

of the nearest person who dared open their mouths

in shock or disengaged amusement,

on any day worth celebrating I would rather take

the moment afforded to pause and wonder

if you would enjoy it too;