!!!!!!!HOPPY BIRD DAY!!!!!!!
just shy of
almost 35 inches high
she perches on my arm
sobs into my shirt cuff
her 4th birthday looms large
for her
& us
...the big 04!
she cries she doesn't
want to grow old
& die!
fears her birthday as
the Grim Reaper himself
calling in person
"Birthdays..." I console her
are just like breathing
in&out
stop 'em & - you're gone!
you don't have birthdays then
no more you!
birthdays are how you
keep making you
happen!
my little eyassvall tears & snot
brightens up at this
sniffs & sniffles
I tell her
you are the sky
all endless & blue
time the wings
that lets you
fly
Death, snickers
standing by my shoulder
"Ahhh...ya old haggard ya
that's a nice pretty lie
to dry
a nestling's tears."
I watch her fly
into the endless blue
of her self
smile as she
embraces
her now
I hop on one
leg
hoppty hop
"HOPPY BIRD DAY!"
I shout against the glare
of time and sun
she squeals
excited now
as to the who
she is
going to
be
both of us
hopping down
the path together