happy birthday, you who blossom sentimental

To Gwyn on her birthday ...

Today as the Earth bursts forth

    in a grateful flood of pink petals

    and springs eternal praise that you live

        another year, another day, another breath-

I wish
    only one gift but it's not mine to give
            only yours to take
                Take life by the horns

with handlebar grip 

    wrestle it down

        shoehorn your way in

every space is your space.

No "toe the line"

step on their fucking toes.

shoes with blood from your heels

    grind 'em into ground.

 

You are right to trust your guts

(don't spill them) 

wrap your guts blanket tight

No guts.

No glory. 

Know your guts.

Know your glory.

Every bath

holy water 

    in your wake. 

baptize in the real knowledge:

 not just a kid
    not just another kid
        not just a weird kid
            not just a sentimental kid
                not just a 'here's looking at you, kid.'
not just valentine tinted water puddled, but
               Arthurian legend, Lady of the Lake, EMERGE

from the dark of your brain and

shake off the water, shake off the tears, 

the vibes are not off, you are a higher frequency. 

Behold!
            You are a whole universe unto yourself.
what you sense is their fear
    let the little boys shake and quake
and sink in their own insecurities

-let them drown.

 

every boy fumbles, at mercy of a Queen,

and dreams to lower her down.

every mortal tries to catch an angel, 

you must fly faster than they can run.