Guest of Honor

The guest of honor,
center of attention,
her party dress a gown of subtle green,
with dainty matching slippers.
Balloons adorn the corners,
flowers flood the room.
Plain white cake, square,
sits on a cheery yellow tray-
untouched.
Pale colored plastic streamers drape
over poles next to her bed,
attach to her hands.
Music plays softly in the background
accented every now and then with
metered beeps.
Well-wishers mill around her,
most decked in white with
necklaces of steel.

As the evening stretches long,
she hopes she'll see just one last
promised attendee.
Finally she feels his smile,
sighs when he offers warm embrace.
He whispers joy into her soul
"I came to take you home, my dear."

She contemplates, but for a moment,
all the gifts she'd leave behind,
then turns to him and with joy she
takes his offered arm and says
Yes, the party's over now and
I had a lovely time."