Toys

                     by Brenda Joy Dobson

Life, the side effect of birth, whether

planned,

unplanned,

a one night stand,

or from years of futile trying...

incubates and

hides in a cake,

to pop out like Jack-in-the-Box.

               Surprise!

With a given name, and

no life script, Jack learns!

One day, he grows tired of the box

held together with band-aids, glue,

and apron strings...

Jack stretches his legs and climbs out...

He does Play Date after Play Date, until

one day, he finds Jill, and sometimes, Jack.

Together, they build a sandcastle by the sea.

Yet, often times, much too close.

An unruly tide catapults in, during

a blue moon night of indescretions...

Their dreams are swept away in

a firey, fueled mist of complications.

With strength, the healer and renewed faith,

they rise up out of swirling, parting waters,

each seeking a new Play Date for pillow fights.

bjd