on the 4th of July
after the parade
all of the children
gathered in the field on the north side of the fairgrounds
together

this ground was safe,
for children to run and reach and scramble
chosen for its safety
surrounded by a fence
keeping all the children inside
together

a bulls eye for one
this field of children
looking up
anticipating
together

a perimeter of parents
cameras
beer in plastic cups
waiting and watching
these children
together

the distant hum
of a small plane
a crop duster
swinging low
with a cargo of 1000 ping pong balls
dropped over the field
together

falling like feathers
that bounce
or are caught in small hands
children like mother hens sheltering eggs
fill their make shift t-shirt basket nests
together

treasures,
not only ping pong balls
but ping pong balls stamped with fair prizes
a hot dog
a slushy
or perhaps a five-dollar bill
and all the children leave the field with bounty
on cloud nine
together