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NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – I is for…

Poetry from A to Z *
(* NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge)

I is for… Insensitive
~ by Laurel Regan

(Pssst… new here? Welcome to Alphabet Salad! For background on how and why I got involved in both NaPoWriMo and the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, check out this post… and, if you’d like to catch up on my progress to date, my challenge posts are tagged with Poetry from A to Z. Glad you stopped by, and hope you’ll return!)

Blogging from A to Z April (2010) Challenge - I

i visited the bakery today
searching for
a special cake
for a special someone
on a special birthday

and there it was:
vanilla sponge layered with
mouthwatering bavarian cream
luscious strawberries
airy whipped cream

perfection.

but then

“tsk, tsk,” said a customer
in (only half-joking) reproof
with a disapproving look
from
the cake
to my fat body
and back again.
“tsk, tsk.”

i rushed to offer
assurances
explanations
reasons
“it’s for my husband’s birthday,” i blurted
almost adding “his 60th”
(as extra justification)
and actually inquiring,
“do you think this will feed ten people?”
(for good measure)
as if it was any of his business
why or where or with whom
this cake would be eaten

“well, ok then,” begrudgingly
“i guess you’re allowed.”

maybe he thought he was being funny
but i didn’t know what i was supposed to say:
thank you for understanding?
thank you for letting me off the hook?
thank you for your permission?

so i said nothing
just laughed a little, embarrassed
fought to stifle guilt, shame
paid for my cake
left the store
got in the car
and headed home
not sure whether my mounting feelings of anger
were more at him
or with myself

Photo Friday: Buildings

Photo Friday: Buildings

Are you participating in any April challenges?
Please share!

Photo Friday

Blogging from A to Z April (2015) Challenge
NaPoWriMo 2015Ultimate Blog Challenge
NaBloPoMo April 2015

Laurel Storey, CZT – Certified Zentangle Teacher. Writer, reader, tangler, iPhoneographer, cat herder, learner of French and Italian, crocheter, needle felter, on-and-off politics junkie, 80s music trivia freak, ongoing work in progress.