My First Big Party (Poem)

crowns of flowers, woven ribbons

morning dew down freshly cut grass

where a tent tiptoes to the clouds

tables adorned with linen, pancit, lumpia, puto

juice boxes near everyone’s lips

along with pockets of little laughter

Mama told me to put on my best dress

white, fluffy, like a polar bear

decorated with polka-dots of mud

from running around believing

I could fly with just one balloon

Mama hands me a slice of cake

swirls of icing on purple sponge, I spit

earthy taste from my mouth

Mama takes me to a wooden present

shiny, smooth on bitten fingernails. I trace

a smiley-face on the glass. I see

snow hair frozen

rose painted cheeks. I look

for his eyes. I listen

for his voice so

I sing

Happy Birthday

I clap

my hands

sprinkle

confetti

soil

and

balloons

begin

to

fly

Lolo

Someday

we’ll have another party in the sky