Tuesday, September 11, 2012

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.

Monday, September 10, 2012

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.