As we listened to the songs
the easy flow of banter on the lawn
dancing, running children
finding friends, new ones too
enjoying the fellowship
a community

Bands of orange over the clouds
their shapes darkening from gray-white
to deepening slate, to plumb
the streaks becoming salmon ribbons
brushed, fading sunset
coursed across the sky

The underside of the batting
the quilt of the night
descending over us
before the fireworks
ushered in by the dark