we bought fireworks from a man with no thumbs

his tent was open year round
though we weren’t sure why
when we asked where his thumbs were
he told us he didn’t miss them too much
because there wasn’t anything to light anymore
at least not for him
but he could still watch others
burn what they needed to burn
or penetrate the sky with aimless duty
he said losing his thumbs
was the happiest day of his life
because in his inability
there was freedom from obligation
so he’d watch the paychecks of others
reach their climax
and know that he played a small part
in the moment of happiness
contained in the cracks of the night sky
before their return
to suffering
or worse, inconsequence