Birthdays

There’s something odd about Birthdays,

and this sentiment

I can’t seem to shake away.

Candles and cakes 

Balloons and milkshakes

Is it all real, or is it all fake?

Nowadays, is it just for the social media posts,

for the likes, the follows and the right to boast?

Or maybe

 it has a deeper meaning,

and maybe a humbling one too.

Maybe it’s to realise 

what you have around you.

Your family, your friends, 

the ones who stick by you,

the ones who were always there,

through and through.

And maybe it’s to remind us all,

to be grateful for our achievements,

no matter big or small.

Of how you made it through another year,

facing challenges and detours,

going through the ups and downs of life,

the sugar and spice that makes it all nice.

At random moments of my day,

I do sometimes stop and ponder;

But really, 

why do we celebrate,

an anniversary of the day

you say checkmate to death, 

as u succeed to keep it at bay

for another year.

Ah, and we also keep score,

on how long we’ve been defeating death;

Now, isn’t that queer?

Wait, You don’t get what I mean?

Just keep reading on,

and then hopefully, you’ll see

In a room full of strangers,

you’re the odd one out,

feeling isolated 

till a friendly face comes about;

“Hi how’re you doing, it’s nice to meet you,

My name is Howard and who are you?”

You’re glad you’re no longer alone with your thoughts,

you reply and flash a big smile,

your stomach starts to unknot;

“That’s cool,” he replies,

and asks one thing more,

“So how many times 

have you defeated death so far?”

Your eyebrows furrow, 

and you feel a slight blush,

shyly u ask,

“I’m sorry, but defeated death how?"

 He laughs and says, “what’s your age, silly cow?”

So, what I’m trying to say is 

To me, 

Birthdays and age are tricky;

Some people loath it,

some people wait for it,

some people get upset over it,

and some just don’t care about it.

So candles and cakes

balloons and milkshakes,

I guess you should be happy

because you’ve lived another year,

but did you really live

or were you really just here?

END

Author's Note

Non-Rhyming Poem