The Pop-Tarts Bowl

The human-sized Pop-Tart

holds a sign that reads

Dreams Really Do Come True

before he’s later devoured,

a modern Christ, body

as breakfast pastry.

K-State & NC State played

some football. I think

the Wildcats won. The game itself

feels secondary. At some point

in the second half, my son

takes his first breath, ESPN

on a hospital TV in the background.

Later that night I’ll eat the Pop-Tart

I’d thrown in my bag—cinnamon

& brown sugar. I guess

technically the one I had

was off-brand, bought on sale

at HyVee, but details

can always be changed to tell

the story you want to tell.

Like when I say what my son’s

first football game was,

I don’t have to mention

that he never looked at the screen,

too busy with the rituals of birth.

I can pretend we sat there

& watched the players eat the mascot.