The Parade by Amy Cotter

They stood above them oblivious,

as the boy rammed his foot into the girl.

Judging by her swiftness in reaction,

they knew each other quite well.

As the boy rammed his foot into the girl,

she responded with a slap in the face, a spell.

They knew each other quite well.

The women kept on chatting.

She responded with a slap in the face, a spell.

Admiring the floats as they passed by,

the women kept on chatting.

But the shrieks of impatience arose.

Admiring the floats as they passed by,

the two little cousins below.

But the shrieks of impatience arose;

both of them now standing

The two little cousins below,

could not have been older than three.

Both of them now standing,

determined to smack their opponent.

Could not have been older than three,

not knowing that the parade was a time of glee.

Determined to smack their opponent,

until the mothers noticed in horror.

Not knowing that the parade was a time of glee,

the cousins kept fighting to get their way.

Until the mothers noticed in horror,

onlookers beginning to whisper.

The cousins kept fighting to get their way,

at that fateful fourth of July parade.