(for Kai and Fia Skye)

Let’s call it a holiday,
24 hours when you can
use any tactics you like
to persuade people
to verbally admire you

(though you’ve decided
to graciously accept
love notes in any form, too).

So you don your most
flattering outfit, poof up
your hair, maybe even apply
a little lipstick, pop on
an eye-catching necklace.

But then,
not wanting to appear
shallow,

you think that maybe if you do
something for someone else—
hold open a door, perhaps,
or insist that the person
behind you in the checkout
line go ahead of you—

You only have a couple of items,
you generously say,
imagining a response like
How kind of you!
And what a great necklace!

But then you realize
that you’re performing
a kindness to potentially
get one in return—no
guarantee of that—which
makes it not so self-serving,
right?

Which means you really
do deserve that compliment,
you fabulous human, you.
And may I say how lovely
you look today in that
stunning blue dress?