It was 10:35, August 21
I woke up, and through the window
The rain gone, there's only the sun
I love the rain, I've been loving sorrow,
Perhaps, I'm done for things undone,
And there's nothing really to do
But face my own new year through.
The street was long, endless really
My sweat drew maps on my shirt
The street was long, leading nowhere simply,
All in all, below the asphalt is earth
Despite the wails of motorcycles and cars
Sooner now, I'll be back to the stars.
For now the flowers still smile a smile,
But the food have become tasteless
All that remains of what Time defiled
Sooner too, they'll wilt, in baselessness
Continuing anyway for one more mile
As there's nothing to do, more or less.
The sea wind welcomes me
Like a woman's hand on my hair.
Years drift to the limited continuity
I laughed because I could not despair.
With a pudding in my hand, no sorry
For the sunset falling over me.
Aug. 21, 2026
Ok fine.
the sun came up
this morning.
It does that
every morning.
Why is today
so special?
Why should I
have a nice day
today
when there are
365 days to
choose from?
Besides,
who are you
to tell me
what kind of
day to have?
Ok fine.
The moon rose
this evening.
It does that
every evening.
It’s no different
an evening
than any other
I’ve spent in
the past
62 years.
Why go out
to celebrate
when it’s just
another
24-hour
period
in my life?
What’s the
big deal?
Ok fine.
I WILL
have a
Happy Birthday-
just to make you SHUT UP!
Today a new day begins
I'm wearing my birthday pin
Another year older. It's a shame
There go more ouchie aches and pain
Memory loss and weakened bladder
Trying to get up I splatter
On the floor and can not move
I guess I finally lost my groove
60 years old me oh my
There is a tear in my eye
From laughing at the pics
And all of the funny gifs
On my timeline being sent
From my crazy and good friends
Is age really just a number
With no money no slumber
When birthdays were a fun
Why now I feel that I am done
For each year I used to wait
Now each year appear as bait
When kith and kin were all fam
When we all were herd of ram
When Aunt was another mom
And well enacted the rom com
When Dadu play my super spine
When he’s there for every dine
When love gets lost in labour
No kin, no trust and no favour
In chamber of thorn in all line
Where wonder i if all is fine
In drums of drama’n distance
In every heart there is a fence
A hope resides like star shine
In million miles i may get mine!
Like a work of art,
Formed from thought,
Detailed with steez,
Classic in taste, elegant in style
A design by The Architect.
In the eighth month,
Infinity ?? stands
Not just to mark the month,
But to align with the day:
8/8 - Eight, Zero, Eight.
The hands of the Maker
Reflect His image
On the mold He shaped with passion.
Not merely a symbol,
But a living entity of grace.
He grew to become
Not just a human with intellect,
But a man of divine purpose.
And today marks another day
To remember the investment of trust,
The abundance of grace and mercy,
And the preservation of the soul.
I'm here to say,
Thank You
For all You've done
And all You're about to do.
Without You, I am nothing...
Help me, O Lord...
For Your love is better than wine.
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday!
Let the tables turn;
Let this day return
Again and again;
I feel insane
Without you, my dear;
Our friendship’s sheer.
O, my best friend,
Amity has no end;
Best wishes for you;
Nothing can hurt you,
For you will stay girt
With the love from my heart.
Do not feel morose;
Life, as usual, goes,
But our amity will bring
You back to health and sing
The glories of life,
Banishing age-old strife.
Stay strong, stay strong,
Sing life’s glorious song.
Life is for us, for us all.
Listen to life’s sweet call.
O, chum,
Let us hum
Life’s glory,
Not such flurry.
Aye, the hospital
Must give disposal;
I would say, I do say
To dream of a sunny day.
What can COVID-19 do?
It can never, never touch you.
We can win, this we must defeat;
Get ready for life's dear drumbeat.
There is the sun, there he is, yes, he is
To make the cloud come to the cease.
Happy birthday, happy birthday!
Many happy returns of the day.
Marina, Motherina, Baba, Mum!
Reflect upon what your life has become:
Born in Harbin to refugee Russians,
Tossed out by Mao, with mild repercussions.
Aussie girl, country girl, raised by grandmas,
And grandpa and parents (both pains in her ****).
Small school, to high school with penguin-ed nuns,
Bespeckled and bikeless - childhood is done!
Went off to college at Melbourne Uni,
Made friends, stole a goat and earned a degree.
Entered the workforce for airliner doomed,
Later a teaching position assumed.
Married a beardy fresh in from Hungry
(also a Russian circuitously)...
Moved to the suburbs - East of the border,
Had a few children (not in that order).
Two in-laws out back, who helped with offspring,
Replaced by her mum, who started writing.
Son and two daughters, she raised to adult,
Some better than others - not all her fault.
Each offspring took flight, with their other half.
All but the youngest, who forged her own path.
Some grandkids were born, they grew up a bit,
Throw in some church stuff and that's about it.
As you settle into year 15,
reflect upon what came before.
The 14 years of being you,
allll creatures/people you adore.
There have of course been troubled times -
Life does not spare the least of us.
But these misfortunes must not blind,
The chance to grow a little more.
Your willful beauty, strength of poise,
undoubted talent, all employs ...
To make you who the world does see.
Now we; we see much more - for sure!
A gentle empathetic heart,
The understated counterpart,
Of outward guise. We love this part!
And wish you joy, with all candour.
Happy Birthday beautiful girl!
I am a classic wine, brewed to last the taste of time,
A vintage soul, in the rhythm of life's sweet rhyme.
Uncork the years, let memories pour and swirl,
Each sip, a tale, in this celebratory twirl.
Unapologetic in essence, like a bold red blend,
A symphony of moments, from start to end.
In the cellar of experience, aged to perfection,
A celebration of life, a joyous resurrection.
Raise a glass to the years, like bubbles in flight,
I am the melody of moments, dancing through the night.
With each passing age, I gain a richer hue,
A tapestry of lessons, each one tried and true.
So here's to the journey, to the laughter and tears,
I am a classic wine, echoing through the years.
By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Happy birthday, dear Mrs. Nonye Soludo!
In Anambra's heart, you brightly glow,
Through Healthy Living, you've made it so,
Your passion for wellness, it clearly shows.
Your beauty and smile, a dazzling sight,
A beacon of hope, like stars at night,
In all you do, you bring delight,
Guiding us towards a future bright.
With each passing year, you shine anew,
A leader, wife, and friend so true,
In your endeavors, we find our cue,
To celebrate the greatness that is you.
So, here's to you, a birthday cheer,
A day to cherish and hold dear,
Mrs. Nonye Soludo, far and near,
May joy and blessings fill your year!
With gratitude and cheers conveyed,
Happy birthday, to you, we've bade,
Wishing you joy on this special day,
Happy birthday, Anambra First Lady, we say.
© Izunna Okafor, 2023
_________________________________________
Izunna Okafor is an Anambra-based writer and journalist.
Happy Birthday, Ava Grace,
I hope a smile adorns your face.
Today's the day to celebrate you,
All you are and all you do.
On this day you came to be,
A precious member of our family,
So tiny, you were like a doll,
But now you're ten and getting tall.
I hope you have the best of days,
Filled with laughter and sunny rays.
May you always know that we love you,
And pray that all your dreams come true.
(Today is Tata MANDELA’S birthday. Freedom lovers all over South Africa are celebrating his legacy of Compassionate Love. I wrote this poem on his birthday when he was still alive. I am so grateful that I was humbled to serve in his government whilst he was President of the First National Democratic Government in South Africa.
At the time I wrote it, I was living opposite a pine forest. )
MANDELA’S BIRTHDAY POEM
All is radiantly translucent
Drops of water sit in
Silence on trees in sunshine
Aloe reflect themselves
In flooded ponds
Tasks are listed
Pines reach for the sky
Where clouds ripple lace across
A stretched out blueness
Dogs bark
Workers to work
Students to school
Earth holds us
in the full Awareness
of our own power to
Change !
Happy Birthday
Cherished leader
©GhairoDanielsPoetry&Song2011
SEE POEM READ BY POET ON YOUTUBE
@ghairodanielspresence
I wrote this poem to say
Happy Birthday grandma, now you are 69,
no matter how old you get whenever you wake up 4:00am is the time.
You have aged so well in these years,
you are stronger and braver
than all your peers.
You have done so many cool things
in your life, you have visited almost the entire
Europe, and you have visited many countries,
but meat and chicken is what you dislike.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY is what I say again,
a good age and health is my wishes that
you should gain
Another year has come to pass,
your birthdays here
its here at last.
The number changed,
advanced by one
Let's celebrate and have some fun.
For it is what we must do,
cause the gift this day
was the birth of you!
My Birthday Poem
Woke up on a cold, gloomy day.
I'm feeling excited about today,
As it's my blessed birthday.
The window curtains were drawn,
As the strong wind was gusting and blowing.
The kettle was whistling,
And my hot chocolate drink was waiting.
The window was open,
The sounds of the Crystal chimes,
They were so relaxing.
Autumn is coming,
And the leaves will soon start falling,
And
Lovely birds have gone tweeting.
What a blessed birthday,
On an early September morning!
Written by: Rosey RMV
02/09/2021
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