July The Fourth Be With You

From Jim Asher, the world's leading authority on Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request):

A picnic?  A parade?  Hotdogs? Watermelon?  Waving a flag? Sitting on the beach?

How do you celebrate the 4th of July?  

Whatever you do, we hope you get a chance to see some fire works -- and enjoy Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem "A Firework across the sky" (below on the left).  His poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "A Cap of Lead across the sky" (below on the right) -- and wherever you are, we hope a thunderstorm doesn't rain on your parade!

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

A Firework across the sky
With light and sparkly hues
We watched to find the mighty Fire
In Reds and Whites and Blues –

A Flare flew up straight from a shaft
Our night became a blaze
The Wild Display contained the Charm
Of Heavenly Bouquets

By Emily Dickinson:

A Cap of Lead across the sky
Was tight and surly drawn
We could not find the mighty Face
The Figure was withdrawn –

A Chill came up as from a shaft
Our noon became a well
A Thunder storm combines the charms
Of Winter and of Hell.