I've been very busy but I was having a very silly night, last night.

Enjoy.

I Don’t Like Surprises

Forty years ago today,
We surprised you,
We feted you,
For your fortieth revolution around the sun.
You hated it.

I hope you’ve changed your mind.
Because, we are ready,
Hiding behind your sofa, your potted palm,
In your hallway closet.
Eighty years is worth celebrating.

We hear the door knob turn,
The latch release with a click,
A half of a beat behind the mantle clock producing the vestige of an echo.
We see your back.
You face the door as you push it shut.



“On your mark,
Get set,
Go!”



The look on your face is priceless
When you spin around.
Your right hand is on your chest,
Mouth splayed open like an upside-down boomerang,
Eyes like two lidless moons.
Then, you turn white as a sheet
And drop to the floor.

We rush out to the foyer,
To see why you’ve done what you’ve done.
What’s wrong?
Are you putting us on?
Scaring us for the surprise?
Getting even? You still hate surprise parties, do you?
Oh come on, get up.

But, wait-
I stand over you
And stare at your ashen face,
A face that, I must confess, I’ve never seen before.
You’re the wrong person.
We went to the wrong house.