waiting on a rainy day

in later years,

for my birthday

my mother

would send me five dollars.

a crisp bill

folded in

a small card with a bird

on it,

or maybe a cake with

candles.

she'd sign it

and say save it for

a rainy day or

don't spend it all

in one place.

love, mom.

i put it with the others,

then looked up

at the clouds, 

wanting it to never rain.