“You live a quarter century
and what do you get?
Another day older
and closer to death.”

You say you hate your birthday
and I’m no fan of mine
since it’s hard to think I’m aging well
as if I’m a fine wine
when the slightest change in environment
proves how sour I’ve become.

But you, so fresh,
so new,
so exciting,
your birth is one
that must be celebrated.
Certainly, I can’t be the only one
to think this way.
There have to be others
on this globe
who see such joy
on this day
that can only be identified
as sourced by you.

Anyway, yours
is a happy birthday
for me, at least.
I hope at some point
you can find as much pleasure in it
as I do.