A Coastal Orange County Fourth of July
Poem by Jacqueline Macken
July 4th here starts bright and early,
Cool coastal air, just a little bit swirly.
Flags going up, chairs line the street,
Neighbors all gathering, ready to meet.
Parades roll through with music and cheer,
Kids on their bikes in full festive gear.
Wagons and laughter, waves and a smile,
The kind of small moments that linger awhile.
Then off everyone goes—no need for a plan,
Just follow the crowd, join in where you can.
Coolers and towels, sunglasses on,
Heading for water from morning till dawn.
The beach fills in, the bay comes alive,
Boats drifting slowly, all catching the vibe.
Music is playing, laughter is loud,
Somehow you always run into a crowd.
Food on the grill, something to share,
Someone brought extra—there is plenty to spare.
Friends bring more friends, it all blends together,
Sun on your shoulders, perfect warm weather.
Jump in the ocean, back to the sand,
Over to the bay with a drink in your hand.
No clock, no schedule, nowhere to be,
Just one long day of summer by the sea.
Then comes the shift—that end-of-day glow,
Golden light stretching, moving in slow.
The breeze finally cool, the sky turning pink,
One of those moments that makes you just think—
This is the good stuff,
this is the day,
Everything else
just fades away.
Then night rolls in and blankets go down,
Chairs pulled in closer all over the town.
Kids still running, not ready for bed,
Parents half-laughing at what they just said.
Then—boom—one firework lights up the sky,
A second, a third, and they just keep flying high.
Color and sound reflected in the bay,
Cheers from the beach carry far, far away.
And just like that, nothing else matters,
Not emails, not meetings, not life’s little clatters.
Just friends and family, right where you are,
Watching the sky burst bright like a star.
Parades in the morning,
Beach all day long,
Fireworks at night—
It is summer’s best song.
July 4th is here—
there is nothing quite like it,
You do not plan it…
you just step right inside it.
