11 years ago today,
A husband travelled miles away,
A wife went on with one more day,
And no one thought much either way.

But on that day you changed the scene,
A mother started looking green,
A father rushed from where he’d been,
Though late you now seemed super keen.

11 years ago you see,
We never knew who you would be,
How you would change your mum and me,
Nor that we’d now be just us three.

For on that day when you were born,
The world we knew was ripped and torn,
And though we both were tired and worn,
A new life started that next morn.

11 years ago we knew,
That all we’d do was now for you,
To feed, and love, and keep you true,
To teach, and learn from all you do.

So from that day we made a vow,
And kept it from that day to now,
To show you when, and what, and how,
Your new world will and won’t allow.

11 years ago you came,
You changed the rules of every game,
So nothing could remain the same,
And all would soon know of your name.

Now from that day until this one,
You’ve grown and learned through pain and fun,
A journey barely just begun,
But we take pride in all you’ve done.

Happy Birthday, Evelyn!

Today I look back on the years,
the canvas of my hopes and fears,
each stroke another memory,
that shaped who I have come to be.

With each new layer the image clears,
the final portrait ever nears,
the image of my inner self,
displayed for all upon life's shelf.

Through the years the colours change,
some bright strokes fade to dim the range,
but for each dark there is a light,
and in the end all will be right.

So now I'll go on with each day,
content that I will find my way,
in time to share this work of art,
the true reflection of my heart.

Sometimes we seek another way,
A fresh road we can walk,
A different self to be for once,
A new voice that could talk.

Sometimes we face another dawn,
A shade of nothing new,
A different day in nought but name,
A nightmare ever true.

Sometimes we glimpse another world,
A chance that never came,
A different self that could have been,
A life not spent the same.

Sometimes we crave another day,
A tick of time to spare,
A different moment from the rest,
A secret not to share.

Sometimes we catch another eye,
A star that might have shone,
A different self reflected there,
A fantasy long gone.

Sometimes we cast another spell,
A wish for days ahead,
A different outcome at the end,
A paradise instead.

Sometimes we grasp another dream,
A flame to light the dark,
A different self to live inside,
A flint to light our spark.

Sometimes we find another smile,
A grin for what we hold,
A different outlook on our lot,
A peace as we grow old.

The expectation of a world that forces me to feel,
Like medication on the wounds of battles from the past,
Through meditation on the hope that one day scars will heal,
To resignation of the fact that nothing good can last.

This hesitation in my mind of all that could go wrong,
In relegation of my dreams and hopes for days ahead,
This trepidation on each truth I've held inside so long,
Brings elevation of the fears locked deep within my head.

Through dedication to the wants of anyone but me,
Like desperation for the praise and pressure that I need,
The revelation of a life not lived as it should be,
Shows recognition of the time spent letting my heart bleed.

When flagellation of my soul at last comes to an end,
The desolation of my mind will surely take its hold,
That isolation of a life devoid of any friend,
An affirmation that the fire inside of me is cold.

With conjugation of my choices and the life I see,
Comes realisation that the road I walk is one I made,
An affectation for dramatic verse and poetry,
Just confirmation that my soul has been too long in shade.

Though condemnation of the past is bittersweet at best,
A retribution for a curse imposed upon myself,
This contemplation of the present ever seems to test;
The concentration on my future state of mind and health.

While recitation of these thoughts could be cause for concern,
Continuation of this written therapy is key,
Through repetition of these lines the pain will slowly burn,
And immolation of the past will someday set me free.

We may not be conventional,
We may not wine and dine,
We may not go for moonlit walks,
But love for us will shine.

We may not be extravagant,
We may not send a rose,
We may not exchange chocolate,
But love for us still grows.

We may not be traditional,
We may not share world view,
We may not celebrate today,
But love for us is true.

Today is just another day,
No cause for joy or cheer,
Just one more day in one more month in one more mortal year.

But look at it another way,
This is your time to shine,
This day, this month, this year, this life are all still yours and mine.

Today may be another day,
No need for gift or song,
Just one more moment here on earth still trying to belong.

But looked at from another way,
This is your chance to soar,
This moment filled with endless love is yours forever more.

Today is just another day,
No time for cake or card,
Just one more step along a road that seems to get more hard.

But look at it another way,
This is more than it seems,
This road we walk together will some day lead to your dreams.

Today may be another day,
No sign of something more,
Just one more dawn and dusk to face and add towards the score.

But looked at from another way,
This day is all for you,
This life we share could not exist without your love so true.

So let there be another day,
No worries in your mind,
Just hope and laughter here with us are all you have to find.

We'll look at life in our own way,
Today and every day,
This heart of mine will follow yours and never go away.

And so the curtain closes on another mortal year,
the shadows still fall close behind but light stands ever near,
staring deep into the void of all life’s hope and fear,
we smile for all that’s yet to be and those we hold most dear.

For though the sun soon sets upon the times that have gone by,
the dawn will bring another chance for each of us to try,
to change the world around us as we gaze towards the sky,
And be the best that we can be and never let love die.

So let the clock tick down the time towards the final hour,
Worry not on what's ahead and do not hide or cower,
Make your future plans with all that lies within your power,
Build a new life rich in love to be your cherished dower.