Friends

the woman in the back is eating cake,

I know, because I could hardly pull myself away.

Diane was wearing a black sheath showing off her

sculpted shoulders, I was wearing red at my very own

little black dress holiday party, I was holding a glass of

red wine, but had to put it down.

who are these people, my friends, 

Michele, who speaks six languages fluently,

LeRoy, we carpooled for several years, always

dropping my kids at school on the way, we repeated

ourselves so many times we had hand signals to indicate

another repeat.

Barry and Paula, his family, a woman in the back who I

can't quite make out, but I think it's Susan

who works too hard and needs to find a way to

have more fun and the big goof in the back,

my husband, Stephen, peeking over everyone's 

heads.

and me, looking happy, being happy

amongst all my friends.