Let's Have A Party! Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

let's have a party! the cardboard invitation read,
so highly coloured, with its five balloons
in primary colours, and two secondary.

we'll have fun and party favors too and
little hats with silver streamers.
come as princesses, or dukes or kings

prepared to eat pink ice cream!
to fight just paper dragons red as the sun.
and when we're done, there's a centerpiece

like pirate's treasure. you can rummage in,
every one! they'll be no more bills hereafter!
shout if from the crepe paper rafters

we'll be free to build our playhouses by
the stream and use our monopoly money
boundlessly at the candy stores.

heck. we'll buy them and give them to the poor
in striped sacks full of the delights
especially toffee wrapped in chocolate, bits

of caramel in raspberry foil.
no more of toil, hard lessons learned or algebra.
it's the world's birthday! everyone gets presents;

a generous slice of cake with the buttercream rose.
and free piano lessons!

mary angela douglas 30 july 2014