A.W. Books & Poetry

I made a birthday cake for you;

I wish you could taste it too.

It’s sugary, spongy sweetness is nothing compared

To buttery, birthday wishes

And in-person hugs and cookie dough kisses,

But it will have to do.

Made the batter out of flour, didn’t have baking powder,

nor vanilla flowers,

But this stark and sour goop will have to do.

And after the crispy cake cooks and cools,

I’ll frost it with a fruity icing soup

made of mangoes and maples,

then I’ll cover it in sweetening sprinkles…

I wish I could slice a sliver, stamp it and send it over the salty, surly sea- along with a kiss on the cheek.

Man, I hope this birthday cake tastes as good as the butter-cream dream of being there when my best friend turns 17.

-Annalise Wellman