Suprise Party-By Katie Hedgepeth

Sending out the invitations to all

The people you know, inviting all your
Friends and family to come to the planned
Party. Running to the store to grab some
Different types of booze such as Potters,
Brunettes and perhaps some red and white wine.

 

Friends and family begin to arrive,
Slowly trickling in the front door. Some
Stand in silence while others talk to one
Another.   People wearing silk dresses
With their hair up in a bun, looking very
Elegant and ecstatic to be here.

 

I shush the crowd and tell them to be still
And quiet, for he is coming and it
Needs to be completely silent. I tell
Everyone to get into their hiding
Place so that he will be shocked and surprised
When he comes in, to see that all of his
Family and friends are here. Remaining
Still, no one moves and at last it’s silent.

 

As he walks through the door, everyone jumps
Out and yells “Happy Birthday Joe,” Glitter
Falling to the ground as someone lets go
Of it, million specks of glitter drops
To the floor, some glitter landing on the
People. Friends and family dancing while they
Spill champagne on their gowns, everyone is
Excited and the party is like a
Concert. The house is so loud and there is
No silence around, in this massive house.

_____________________________________________

The Party-By Jason Shinder

 

And that’s how it is; everyone standing up from the big silence

of the table with their glasses of certainty and plates of forgiveness

and walking into the purple kitchen; everyone leaning away from the gas stove

Marie blows on at the very edge of the breaking blue-orange-lunging-

forward flames to warm another pot of coffee, while the dishes pile up in the sink,

perfect as a pyramid. Aaah, says Donna, closing her eyes,

and leaning on Nick’s shoulders as he drives the soft blade of the knife

through the glittering dark of the leftover chocolate birthday cake.

That’s it; that’s how it is; everyone standing around as if just out of the pool,

drying off, standing around, that’s it, standing, talking,

shuffling back and forth on the deck of the present

before the boat slowly pulls away into the future. Because it hurts

to say goodbye, to pull your body out of the warm water;

to step out of the pocket of safety, clinging to what you knew,

or what you thought you knew about yourself and others.

That’s how it is, that’s it, throwing your jacket over your shoulders

like a towel and saying goodbye Victoria goodbye Sophie goodbye

Lili goodbye sweetie take care be well hang in there see you soon.