the birthday of the sun

by Kiyo Murakami

I declare today to be the birthday of the sun,
and I declare tomorrow to be the birthday of the moon.
Bake the cakes, wrap the gifts, and then check
To see if we have enough candles to blow out.
These are now the birthdays of the sun and moon,
Days of my choosing. Why? Because my son is dead
And I am ripped up like an old newspaper. That's why.