It will soon be upon us, the night of bangs and sparks.
When our dog cowers under a table and incessantly barks
When grown men take risks but shout, ‘Stand back’ to others.
And discuss explosives as if they are the Chemical Brothers.

Rockets are assigned to bottles and catherine wheels to posts.
Bangers are thrown willy-nilly but it’s sparklers kids enjoy most.
Pallets are ignited on waste ground and sirens of a fire engines are heard.
In suburban back gardens hot chocolate in mugs is being stirred.

Well-organised displays attract large crowds to local parks.
Where thousands of pounds are instantly burnt in colourful arcs.
Wearing scarfs, bobble hats and gloves people strain their necks.
While cats and dogs quiver at home like nervous wrecks.

The smell of jacket potatoes blends with an odour of smoke.
While teenage boys and older men at the bonfire like to poke.
It was a treasonous act, Guys Fawkes’ Gunpowder Plot.
But these days on the 5th of November we remember it not one jot.