Birthday Girl

the man met me
in the hall and led
me into the room
filled floor to ceiling
with brightly wrapped
packages, telling me to
watch out for all the
burning candles.

we trod on mounds
of tissue paper, curly
ribbons caught in our hair.

finally we sat down to
admire the glittering
when suddenly the gifts
tumbled down around me
and i was buried in laughter
and dreams and sighs of love.


Image by Maggie Taylor, 2000, http://www.johnclearygallery.com/artists/taylor/taylor.html