I remember my first,
One candle astride a cake,
Family panting and puffing,
Until the flame went clear,
Clapping and applauding,
My first birthday year.

I remember my second,
Two candles proud like the twin towers,
I was breathing and blowing,
Until the towers collapsed in tears,
Laughing and screaming,
My second birthday year.

I remember my ninth,
Nine candles arranged like a ballet,
Dancing flames quickly clamped down,
Until the flames were no more,
Eating and chatting,
My ninth birthday year.

I remember my twenty-first,
Two candles, each with a number, over-sized on the cake,
Burning brightly as I come of age,
Snuffed out like childhood,
Conversing and lying,
My twenty-first birthday year.

I won't remember my last,
No candles astride a cake,
No family to blow them out,
Or to buy them for me,
Isolated and frightened,
My last birthday year.