Member Poem

I was invited to our neighbor’s birthday party
a boy I didn’t know that well
except he liked to eat mayonnaise sandwiches
and shoot sparrows with his BB gun
but I was excited and nervous
as I walked to his house
empty handed
while everyone else
brought presents wrapped in bright paper.

I cried when I got home
embarrassed and humiliated
as only an eight-year-old could be
when his parents have no money
and self-worth went out
wrapped in yesterday’s newspaper.