my birthday is today.
i am ready. the cake's all set
and the balloons are filled.
now all i'll need is friends
and family to celebrate with.

the house is cleaned.
the food is cooked.
i worked all month at the factory
just to have the money
to buy the party cups and napkins.

five o' clock. the dinner is at six.
then we'll sit around and talk
about old times. i can't wait.
we will have "from the store"
ice cream instead of homemade.
i almost couldn't afford it,
but i splurged and used the last of
my grocery money for it.

where are they?
they should be here by now.
it is six o'clock and nobody is here.
i read a book, watch tv, pace
until the cat leaves the room.

eight o' clock. no one comes.
i sit and stare at all my hard work, ruined.
i have to work tomorrow
so i go to bed at nine.
i gave the cat the cake
and left the food out on the counter so
she could eat that too.
my birthday was today.
no one remembered.