A History of Birthday Cakes

This is a villanelle ( my first one) I wrote in Robin’s class last week of October. I am working on a family book of stories through the generations.

A History of Birthday Cakes

Another trip around the sun, of living
a two-year old’s train cake with cookie wheels
the birthday cake, a gift that keeps on giving.

The airplane cake at age 4, with chocolate wings,
the odd shaped Rice Krispy dinosaur, age 5,
my kids’ years around the sun, of living.

Birthdays continued with cakes from Manderfields.
For my 35th, a double layer with many candles
Ah, delicious, a gift that truly keeps on giving.

Our dog Mindy nabbed this big cake off the counter,
ate it in one go – cake, frosting, candles and all,
to celebrate my annual trip around the sun, of living.

Chocolate and candles, so much cake in layers,
was too much for our greedy retrieving dog.
Soon it became the “gift” that kept on giving.

The cleanup of cake ‘n candles began on Monday,
worked its way through that week til Friday.
Another trip with a mop, around the sun, of living,
it was truly the gift….. that kept on giving.