Dear Krithika, wish you a very happy birthday
Seldom, are you not full of joy
Conversing with you is a lot of fun
Thou art such a cool cousin!

Dear Krithika, wish you a very happy birthday
We may not chat everyday
Nevertheless, we share a lovely little bond
Thank you so much, for appreciating my poems to no end!!

Dear Krithika, wish you a very happy birthday
May everything go your way
Many memorable moments, have we shared
Quite a lot of fun, have we had
Always, will I cherish our relationship
Your affection for me runs deep!!

Dear Krithika, wish you a very happy birthday
May you have a fantabulous day
May you and your family get some quality time together
Wishing you a fantastic future
And may the Almighty bless you abundantly forevermore!!

Dear Bro, wish you many happy returns
Always, do I enjoy our calls
You are a wonderful person
So proud am I, to be your cousin!

Dear Bro, wish you many happy returns
I so love our visits to Eating Circles
Your jokes keep me entertained
Some of them are absolute gold!!

Dear Bro, wish you many happy returns
Cheers me up, does your mere presence
You are also amongst the coolest fathers
Sahana is so much fun to be around
Though of course, on the other hand
She can be devilishly tricky at times!!

Dear Bro, wish you many happy returns
To be highly valued, are your suggestions
You are almost like a mentor
For us, so much do you care!!

Dear Bro, wish you many happy returns
I hope today was one of your best birthdays
May you have an amazing year ahead
With many a blessing, may you be showered
I hope to catch up with you soon
May you shine brightly as the Moon!!

I would have wished you happy birthday.
I would have been a friend like you wanted me to be and wished me happy birthday.
I would have shown you that I cared and wished you happy birthday.
I would pretend you didn’t broke my heart a week before my birthday and the least you could have done was messaged me wishing me a happy birthday.

I would done that for you.
I would have stayed for you.
I would still let my heart fight my head everyday for you.

I still tell myself you letting me go was a curtsey when it felt like a betrayal.
I still tell myself I’m better on my own when I didn’t feel this bad holding onto the littlest part of you.
I still hold on hope that I could change your mind to miss me when you clearly don’t.
I would have wished you happy birthday.

In my 20's
In the 70's
I was long in hair,
Donned vests and jeans,
From Goodwill Stores.
But I spent hard cash
On calf-high boots,
Raven black platforms.

Now in my 70's
In these 20's,
They threw me a party.

Hello 70's.
You Are Invited
To a 70's Party.
Groovy attire welcome.

Was I obliged.
Soon compelled.
Nearly obsessed.

Then the epiphany.
The Bard,
Reminds this walking shadow
In the long, gray-haired rented wig.

The smoke from putting out the candles

Reminds me once again how no one cares

How many years has it been with empty promises?



Being told repeatedly how much fun my birthday will be  

You’re getting older we should celebrate  

But when it comes down to it their empty words



It would be different if I didn’t see how much effort  

Goes into everyone else’s  

The smiles I see plastered by how excited they are



It makes me sick; I shouldn’t complain at least they remember

But do they?



I’m celebrated with a cake but who’s going to tell them  

That I’m not much for pastries  

They bought one so it should count for something  



Until you know how each year, I stay up to bake theirs  

One they’ll like

One they’ll enjoy



Here’s to me,  

Happy Birthday to little Miss Nobody

Twenty-four.
A number just one before
twenty-five.
A number that signifies
one quarter
of one-hundred,
-in this case-
years of age.

I've circled the sun so many times
that time itself has begun to blend together:

Days spilled into
                       Weeks cascaded into
                                                    Months plunged into
                                                                                  years; incalculable.

I neglect to mention that throughout it all I have,
in fact,
been vaguely happy at worst and genuinely blissful at best.

And so I say to thee;
If on your birthday you cannot breathe,
If every moment is lost with ease,
I implore you, see the cost of these
things-and learn to set yourself free.