Girl turns three on a homemade cake
She had candy balloons and plastic grass bits
Toy princesses and marscapone rakes
And mom burnt her finger because she forgot the mitts

Girl turns five on a store bought cake
This time it was shaped like jack and jill
And she wondered if it was a fake
It was the month mom got ill

Girl turns seven on a cupcake
And mom could barely get up let alone bake
Dad taught her baseball that week
She peeped at her parents through the little door creak

Mother.
Other.
Her.

Girl turns nine on a chocolate bun
Mom gave her blessing through the grave
That was the year dad knew no fun
And they kept telling her to be brave

Girl turns eleven on a self made cake
Mom was back but her ******* were fake
Dad was googly eyed, yes
He neglected that his baby was depressed

Girl turns thirteen on a seven layered cake
It was all this posh she couldn't take
This year new mommy and daddy started fighting
And she'd turn up the music and dim the lighting

Girl turns sixteen on a birthday card
This year, dad started drinking
And life felt hard, really hard
Deep down she knew she was sinking

Life drifts by slower on a chilling autumn's breeze.
A willows crying, trees are dying, the sky is set like stone.
There's a haunting whisper in the air, a muffled breathing everywhere,
Clouds begin to hum their simple songs.
Leaves are falling like a joyful marionette, the wind its frightful puppeteer.
Crimson tree tops silhouetted along the coast of Earth's shore, dancing calmly, effortlessly.
The horizon, juggling fabulous flames, a mere jester to the world's unending marvel.
The frigid air, silky on my skin, whispers secret wonders of the world, laughing like a child.
The leaves when they fall, they float more beautifully on the path less traveled by, and land more softly.
And life drifts by slower on a chilling autumn's breeze.