Robinson Escapes to the Cape for Independence Day
O little-know facts—how Robinson attracts them!
Pilgrims rocked ashore here, before Plymouth Rock.
The word scrimshaw is of unknown origin.
The stock name of the archaic two-lane main road? Route 6A. Really
it’s Old King’s Highway.
Some facts are useless: the paper bag was invented in Dennis.
Some facts are not: Wellfleet’s town clock sings out ship’s time.
19th century Americans observed only three holidays. The Fourth of
July was one.
O witty aperçus—how Robinson accrues them!
Good food is self-made, like a good millionaire.
Don’t just do something. Stand there.
It’s got to be the weekend somewhere.
Robinson is crisp & perspicuous. His wife stands next to him on the
sand.
Democracy could be a lot more sexy if . . . this one fades in the rockets’
red glare.
Ann blushes, runs a hand through his hair.
Robinson looks up, concussed.
Fireworks percuss.
Copyright Credit: Kathleen Rooney, “Robinson Escapes to the Cape for Independence Day” from Robinson Alone. Copyright © 2012 by Kathleen Rooney. Reprinted by permission of Gold Wake Press.
Source: Robinson Alone (Gold Wake Press, 2012)