when i was growing up

i liked easter
i've always liked to eat eggs
and
who doesn't like chocolate bunnies
but
it wasn't just that

for some reason
it was like a cultural thing
to get
little white mary janes
and little white gloves
and a new dress

i think
the idea was for church
but
not even my fallen catholic mother
believed in going to church
in fact
she was
probably
the most against it
she said:
if you ever become catholic
i'll disown you

she was big on the disowning
not when i was little enough to talk her into a new dress
later
when she realized i was thinking for myself

and
don't get me wrong
i wanted the new dress
but
the thing i really really wanted
was the little white gloves

i couldn't tell you why
and
i always got chocolate on them
but
they were

great