Birthdays

It’s happening again

It happens every year

Right on time

Never misses a beat

It’s coming

It’s ominous

Like a countdown

A black screen with red numbers that goes beep beep

And turns with each second that passes

Then each minute

Like a time bomb

You smile and make believe you totally forgot about it

While really you are so anxious inside

Nervous

Do something, or don’t do something?

Will anyone even remember it?

Will I get what I want?

But they don’t know what I want

In that case, should I tell them?

Or act totally surprised

And enjoy whatever they get me

Even if it’s just a card

Then there’s everything else

All the holy stuff you gotta do

Can’t forget that

After all, you owe everything to g-d

Time to give something back

So, party and get drunk

And then wake up the next morning with no recollection of what you did?

Or pray the whole day?

Make some good resolutions

That I am sure to break the next day.

So much stress

For just one day

If I pray hard enough

You think it’ll go away?

Just skip to the next day

Like in February there’s only 28 days

And the 29^th is missing

But nobody notices.

This is supposed to be a happy day

And it is

But it isn’t

It is a turning point

It is a time for reflection

Also a time to get drunk and act stupid

And do whatever you want

And blame it on the day

The day that is slowly coming closer

With each tick of the clock

It shouldn’t mean much cuz it happens every year

But it means a lot

And each year that passes brings you closer to old age

So should I smile and be happy

Or get just a bit worried, and nervous

About wrinkles and missing teeth that is to come?

Doesn’t really matter cuz it’s gonna come anyway

And all the preparations won’t stop that

And then

Whatever you do

Or don’t do

It’ll be gone

And over

Like it never happened

Until the next year

When it happens again.

Yes. My birthday is coming.