-Celebration-

The great Parade of the Fourth of July

Is about to begin.

I'm at the window.

I’m moody.

It’s six in the morning

And people are gathering on the sidewalks
Unfolding lawn chairs on the sweltering asphalt in anticipation.
The "box seats" of the festivities are lined at the gutters. 

The parade route:

Formations begin to the west

At the corner

Of Bedford and Quarry.

Parade will follow a route

Moving eastward down Bedford,

Passing DiSpirito Brothers Barbershop,

Marretti's Market and Chasidor Leo's variety,—

Passing the front of the house at 1017,

Whitey's ESSO station and Club Marconi

Where the sober enter and then

Zig-zag the pavement on their way home.

Parade will end at Oak Grove Drugs,

Corner of Bedford and Oak Grove Avenue.

Participants will disperse from the corner

Of Bedford and Oak Grove where Politicians

Will discontinue hand-waving

To their non-responsive constituents.

Floral floats will be driven northward

To the Oak Grove Cemetery on Oak Grove Avenue

As an offering to the dead for the bereaved.

One floral gathering per fist-full per family.

A minimal charge will be levied to cover

The cost of stem-snipping and handling.

Panhandlers will be ushered outside the main gate

According to police.

It’s eight fifteen in the morning.

The window's open.

Some houseflies fly out.

Others of their kind fly back in.

The first parade participant

Passes below the window:

Pat Marretti's sky-blue Henry J.— Nice.

The flatbed advertising "Rachlin's Junkyard" follows,

Exhibiting one of its rusted residents. 

I'll hop the junkyard's fence to visit it later on.

A dog, changing its mind at the hydrant

Sniffs the base of something else.

Here's Louie Gasparini's '57 finned Plymouth Fury.

Always a real crowd-pleaser.

"Vets Safety Cab" rolls by in faded red and black, beat-up,
But received with respect and warm applause.
Beverly Greenwood crosses Bedford.

Waiting...

Union Hospital Ambulance passes

With its rotating domelight turned on.

Good idea.

Just in case.

The Sambo's Diner "Black-Faced Tumblers"

Seem to be a no-show.

Too bad.

Everybody gets a kick out of the Sambo's Diner

"Black-Faced Tumblers."

Waiting...

Judy Johnson crosses Bedford.

Carol Sayward crosses Bedford.

There's a kid in the Park

Across the street, gloved and ready,

Standing between second and third.

I know this kid. waiting..

City dump-truck rolls by

Rocking its dripping cradle

To the delight of the children.

"Bunny" DiCorpo crosses Bedford.

City Bus is crowded with waving people

And the standing-room-only rule

Has been implemented.

Joan Reagan crosses Bedford.

Jeanie Tacovelli crosses Bedford.

Shit!

A crazy guy's looking up at the open window.

He says he’s gonna get me.

Bernadette Baker crosses Bedford.

"Hood Milk" truck with its door open

To the stagnant air of early July passes.

The driver looks sharp

In his starched-white uniform with matching

Garrison cap formed in tightly creased paper.

War heroes roll by to the frantic American flags

Waving respectfully on the sidewalk.

Cynthia Lanzisera crosses Bedford.
Edwina Mello crosses Bedford.

"Elaine's Donuts" delivery van passes slowly

Blowing its horn and smelling good.

Betty Ready crosses Bedford.
Red-haired Betty.

"Betty Ready, Full of Spaghetti."

Sheila Smith crosses Bedford.
Shirley Bertoncini crosses Bedford.

Waiting.

Now the smelly LaCava horses clack by

Un-corked, leaving a trail of spent hay smoking

In the heat.

"Free rides for the kiddies in attendance."

There are no takers.
Followers take notice.

Waiting.

Deborah-Anne Gardener crosses Bedford.

Waiting.

Betsy DiNucci crosses Bedford.

Waiting.
Waiting.

City street-sweeper trudges by 

Inhaling what's left into its mechanical lungs.

Waiting.

Nothing.

Waiting...

Nothing.

I guess that’s it. Short on floats.

More girls

Than last year, though.

                           City of Fall River