In Celebration of Life

we gather here tonight
in celebration of life
under the bloated moon
rancid party favors
moldering in the corner
where the clown sells
powder and spikes
and the pony demands
a ride around the field
when the singers begin
croaking out the tune
and the stench of the
human tallow candles
dripping through my mind
gouts of unshed blood
each carefully wrapped package
a noxious surprise
"remember! remember!"
happy happy birthday
to me