The day smells of rubber flip-flops smacking on cement,
of lemonade in frosted glasses,
of chlorine flooding red-rimmed eyes.

Heat rolls over in waves that lick the moisture from their skin,
from limbs that stretch lazily on plastic chairs,
drenching themselves in sunlight.

Their senses fill with the heady scent of summer,
of grill-smoke and dry air;
It permeates their beings,
whispers to them of hazy days,
of laughter and sunshine and freedom.

And the day slips away reluctantly;
blue skies lingering, hesitant,
fading into violet ribbons,
sinking into inky black.

Arid warmth brushes over into night-cool breezes,
Stones cool beneath grateful feet.
And they swap secrets under huddled blankets,
waiting in breathless anticipation.

Until the first notes ring out,
and everything falls silent,
as the first spark catches,
as it climbs,
as it reaches it’s zenith and then,
with a boom, and a crackle,
it bursts.
A shower of light.

It falls, glittering
Gets captured in their eyes,
filling up their hearts
With wonder and beauty
and summer.