On Her 78th Birthday Poem by RIC BASTASA

the cake is not really lavender
as i see it, it is as dark as violet
and not really purple. and the
color of the table covers is not
so pleasing as what a birthday
should be, and the tributes sound
more like an eulogy.

i ask my cousin if this event is
such a joke? or her last birthday?

her grandchilren too cried when
she shed her tears of joy when
her most favorite son did not
make it from a farther state.

she should have been happier.