POEM FOR A BIRTHDAY

It was my daughter's birthday yesterday, so this is for her and for everybody's birthday at this time. It was written by my late husband for when she and her sisters were little!

BUILDING A BIRTHDAY

My wife draws a breath.

Carefully she explains

the architecture of her frivolous cake,

a large one,

with fruit, and icing

white as brides, calmly wading over the top.

She has buns planned.

Home-made.

Sandwiches cut to budget size

and filled with luncheon meat,

cheese, meat paste and supermarket jam.

Jellies figure prominently,

what's a party without a jelly?

My daughter will receive her friends

in the giant shadow of her Mother.

It's her ninth birthday.

The foundations are laid.

By tomorrow evening

the house will have been eaten.

Poem by Alex-1971 copyright.