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.