Expired

Confetti soars, pushed through air

like fireflies released from jam jars,

–oohs and ahhs–

but then

there’s pavement. There’s

grass and mud, flightless flies

stuck to sneaker soles and hair.

The paper fireworks show

at its end, its finale, its guests

already gone, leaving

halfway through. Mumurs of

skipping traffic.

They made an appearance. Showed their

support. Snapped some pics, left clean,

no confetti in their clothes.

Washed their hands of stray pieces.

Disolve what's left.

–biodegradable.

Cheer the confetti while you can;

while it hangs beautifully, flying,

shimmering when the sun hits it just right

like beach rocks

beaneath foam waves.

Everyone knows

the beauty fades, the dazzle dies

when the stones dry.

Everyone knows

confetti is useless, the dazzle dead,

once

it

falls.

Biodegradable? Where’d you find it?

Some site had free shipping with the

coupon code PRIDE.

Send me the link, my wedding’s in September.

Sure. Let me know how it goes.

Oh. It’s expired.

The link?

The promotion.