We never called them "tissues" in our house -
I'm pretty sure I didn't know the word.
Until in school I learned what others said,
Kleenex was the only term I'd heard.

When Golden Books and Kleenex sealed the deal
to sell a volume of fine magic tricks,
I'm sure my mother couldn't wait to buy
the book to which some Kleenex were affixed.

You see, she was an advertiser's dream,
and I just loved to hear her read a book.
What better combination could there be?
I bet it never took a second look.

Before I knew it we were hard at work,
creating dolls and bunnies one by one.
Wad up a sheet of hankies for the head,
then roll more sheets for arms and legs till done.

With nothing but our tissues and some string,
we made carnations from their diagrams.
Fold a sheet like an accordion,
then fluff the edges just like in their plans.

We must have made five hundred if not more -
the hours we spent I'd hate to calculate.
A fold, a fluff, a tie, a tear, a shred -
then magic came from what I'd helped create.

In fifty years since then we have progressed -
virtual worlds exist to entertain.
I only wish I had another chance
to make a Kleenex bunny once again.