Poetry Jam - Birthday

How did I get myself into this?

I guess Nan U can talk me into anything.

So now I've had to write a poem for the poetry jam -- first one I've written in a long time:

The theme was Birthday.


Birthday


And so the Earth
has moved around the Sun
again. To (more or less)
the same spot it was
65 years ago.

Except the whole solar system
has moved millions of miles
during (not to mention)
the galaxy.

So what is the point?
(or where?)
What used to be a great excuse
for ice cream, cake, and presents
all centered around me.


Somewhere (or some time)
along the line, I ceased being
the center of the Universe.


Now I just get black balloons and cards
of grim (but funny) humor
about sags and dribbles and failing
(what's the word?) memory.

And the real point of this poem is
(where did I put it now?)  lost
somewhere in the Universe
that is no longer here (or now)
despite our annual time of
blowing out candles.