happy b-day. by Taryn Dixon

I fumble around my spice cabinet

for the vanilla I know I bought

instead, I find a box

                                     of used     dusty

                                     birthday candles.

the ones that are your favorite color.

I think about the milk chocolate ganache,

dripping from the peanut butter flavored cake

I made you

and the red candle I placed in the center

as I sang “happy birthday” to you—

                                                out of tune

                                                full of love

I wonder who sings to you now.

I throw your candles away

and keep searching

for the vanilla I know I bought.

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Taryn Dixon is a graduate student at Southeastern Louisiana University and editorial assistant at Louisiana Literature Press.