Wakarusa Epiphany

By Thomas Soetaert

My face is beet red,

been wearing the same clothes for three days.

Chigger bites cover the lower part of my body

probably haven’t gotten more than three hours of sleep.

The band is in full swing,

guys and girls spin and twirl.

Dancin’ to Split Lip,

no worries about bein’ hip.

I look around at the easygoing atmosphere,

someone hands me a cold one.

Hula hoops and parasols

ponytails and psychedelic tent walls

I kick off my shoes

a smile crosses my face,

there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

Wakarusa Fest 2005,

I’ll be back next year, you’ll see.

– Thomas Soetaert lives in Lawrence.