Self-Effacement

I was one of those inflatable tube People

before I was an Inflatable tube person,

before I was the best seat in the house,

before I asked myself where my own ticket was,

before I realized this was my wedding or maybe 

the day before perhaps after perhaps it isn’t my wedding 

and I’ve stolen the bride’s dress but everyone thinks

that I’m the bride and they’ve brought me gifts and are crying 

from happiness or envy.

“Thank you” I mumble from behind the veil 

and my voice breaks upon repeating the phrase 

again and again as I touch hands with my guests 

in awe of my stolen beauty and wretched graciousness. 

My voice breaks and bends into iron ingots 

until my tongue cannot lift words of gratitude. 

My guests can only look and imagine

how thankful I am for them coming today.