one pm

there's three dogs
running free, under the table,
between legs
of chairs.
barking.
fighting over a bone.
in and out of the screen door
come bees and bugs.
the grille is
on.
sausage and dogs,
burgers. the smoke in the air
blows blue
into the porch.
the chef has a high hat
and an apron
that reads chef.
the lawn chairs are out in a circle,
a beer in each hand.
music plays, a tv is on.
children are
in the driveway kicking
a ball.
someone throws a fire cracker
in the air, then another.
in the distance
a fire truck wails.