Lynne Sachs
Reflections on a Crackerjack World
In the crackerjack world of default birthday parties
A five-year-old boy plays pyrotechnical
With the soft air of his little lung.
Flames dance like zoftig gogo girls
On the parapet
Of a cake purchased yesterday
At the industrial bakery in the A&P.
Our children
Perform split-second happiness for the camera
As we watch their wide eyes and their hunger tongues
Hold forth
On clandestine birthday wishes
We vow will only come true
If.
