surprise!

We'd planned to surprise her,
            to have good food and fun,
          prayers and blessings,
                      all the things we knew she really wanted.

Then, there she went,
      planning a party herself,
   mapping out the exact things we'd wanted to give her.

[Half the surprise is showing Look, see, we know you and we care.]

So often I do this, too, I think.
        I plan things myself,
      because, quite frankly,
                        I don't believe anyone
                                           loves me
                                        hears me
                                                 well enough to throw
                                                                         a surprise party
                                                                                             just for me.

the cradle to the grave

Inexplicably
         old men loved her--
        from the time she was just a wee little girl,
                    crinkling baby grins and trundling around and tumbling out her little words;
               to the days of long ponytails and short time,
                       when her eyes were dark-circled and she verbally outran them.
 Inexplicably,
             old men loved her--
       always had, no matter what.
   Perhaps she reminded them
                 of someone who lived in their past life.
          Or someone who should have.