Pinned to my blouse
a birthday corsage
cousin Renee made
just for me
the best part
wearing it to school
a gift box ribbon
fluffy and round
like a bouquet,
each year different kinds
small candy pieces
hanging down
seven tootsie rolls
eight life savers
nine Hershey kisses
ten Bazooka bubblegums
made me feel important
when all the girls
would fuss around me
asking for a piece
but it was too vital, too pretty
to break apart—so I’d wear it
all day, very sure to eek out
every drop of special.
