It was a festival of light.

People danced through the night
like fireflies

released from the jars
where they had been trapped.

There was freedom to it,
as you grabbed my hand
and we skipped
down the street
without stopping
until we ran out of breath.

I watched as a little boy ran
to his grandfather
asking
for a quarter.

I smiled at the old couple
sitting on a bench
just watching the
young people dance
in the square.

And we jumped into the middle of that
square
and you lifted me into the
fountain

and I laughed
as we twirled around
the water splashing my dress
like a kiss
of jubilation
and youth

and the children took their glow sticks
and broke them,
pouring the glowing substances
into the water

like a neon
outburst
of grace
and the people walked by
belle and elegance
doesn’t match
this unrestrained night

until I wake up
from the dream.