today is different she checks her blonde
hair but today it is still blonde and freckles
still sprinkle across her chipmunk cheeks she squeezes
her eyes shut looks again and she paints her lids with
blue eyeliner to match her shirt not her eyes and paints
her nails big money frost green and her toes shock crème
pink—it clashes,

she pays no mind today she is older
she walks taller
she steps lighter
she smiles bigger

today she is invincible today
she’s fourteen point five she doesn’t worry
about first period tests or friends
who forgot she blows out the candles
on half of a vanilla cake iced chocolate
with red hot sprinkles.