THE MOST FAMOUS DAY

     by Bates Corlieu

You who gave me my perfect name, homemade paper dolls,
blueberry muffins, The Sleepy Book, cardboard furniture,
graceful hands and feet and “the robin so red who
brought strawberry leaves and over them spread . . .”

You to whom I can give nothing

If I could I would give back to you

                                     the pink oldsmobile,
the laughing man watering the lawn, and my golden baby brother,
and we would all drive to Florida to stay in air conditioned
motels with oval swimming pools, sleep with our arms around
each other and eat birthday cake in glassbottom boats

to celebrate the most beautiful woman in the world,

You, the giver of my glitter spattered dark forever