Above Lithia Park
on the Fourth of July

been walking these woods
all morning
escaping the crowds
and the firecrackers

thinking of the Chinese poet
who could imitate
with bloodcurdling squeals
twelve successive stages
of a pig slaughter --
all in one breath!

thinking I could do the same
for the native people
who knew these woods
before there was a park

yeah!
right by the hot dogs
on the Fourth of July
bulging my eyes for effect