two months later
and the balloon
on her desk
has finally deflated

the ribbon used as a tether
previously taut with tension
is now slack and sinuous
spooled around its anchor

the five points of the star
once sharpened by
an excess of helium
are wrinkled and bent
into a near empty center

the air of celebration is long gone
but there may be
just enough left
for one last
high-pitched hurrah