Summer Parade by Karen Pierce Gonzalez

​
We promenade our dreams
down streets of life,
          places we lean into
          when darkness rolls over.

We wave at wee folk, wasps,
and the woman whose just discovered whiskey,
          distilled
          like so many other intoxications.

We open our mouths to June dry -  
manatee mermaids and lightning bugs
          show up on floats
          telling stories we believe.

We cheer mystic mentors who step simply
on the warm, round womb beneath us
          and toss diamonds and stars
          to us on sidewalks, hands open.


Karen Pierce Gonzalez is a San Francisco Bay Area writer whose chapbooks include True North (Origami Poems Project) and the forthcoming Coyote in the basket of my Ribs (Alabaster Leaves Press), Down River with Li Po (Black Cat Poetry Press).