Brilliant Roman Candles Poem by Robert Rorabeck

In a sad world of brilliant roman candles
You get your picture taken in the middle of the school day—
You've had so many boyfriends you cannot remember—
The candlelight goes out over your birthday—
And then you go to sleep
Underneath a fake Christmas tree—
And while you are sleeping, I enjoy you while I've been
Drinking—and the starlight comes out and shoots off
At a safe distance—I am sure you will find your love
Tomorrow, wherever—but there are just so many places
Left to live—sometime in the spring of next year,
My wife will give birth to our child if she
Is lucky—
But until that happens I have nothing else that I can
Give.