first borne son,
he, 
the distinction 
of being, 
a new start,
a beginning of sorts,
resolution to, 
and revolution for
parents, two
who, unaccustomed to
all, but compliance from
two elder sisters.

he, silently strong 
yet striving to meet
requirements set...
the affections, 
approval,
affirmation... 
conditioned, all 
conditions to be met,
conditioning his heart,
so eager to please,
wanting to seize,
hearts ready to love,
yet never enough,
and so the new start
never starts.

it isn’t until
much later in life
that one sees
what others saw
from afar;
all that was sought
he had already got 
just not in packaging
that made any sense,
everything present,
all, in cloaked 
presentation,
marring
motivation.

and so today, 
on this day 
of making resolutions,
set aside for beginning
new beginnings,
we toast, 
we salute,
we tap our heels 
together times three
making wishes for he,
new starts
this one for
a brother dear
who on the day marking 
the birth of 
his beginning
we resolve
to free him
to lighten his load
to remove from his shoulders
the burden borne
the baggage worn.

and we proclaim,
*"begotten starts
are un-retractable;
trusts entrusted 
are un-revocable;
so...
dream,
run free,
of life drink deep,
dance,
hope,
laugh,
live,
love,
all...
as you were borne,
for which you were borne;
first borne son,
begotten gift.
forever entrusted
with your new start."