MY BIRTHDAY

As I shed my clothes of years
As snakes shed their skins
I know I move at the instruction of time
Which holds the knowledge of where I alight
In this vehicle of life

II
As many voices sing
Ringing bells in celebration
I see what they hide
Behind their curtains of congratulations
That fact that I have taken a step closer
To the end

III
In flashback
I see my young and fragile self
Which knew no hurdles
Which knew no hatred
Transform into seeker
Of life’s forest machete
As I met its desert roads
Whose thorns pierced like spears of enemies
And its fearful animals
Whose teeth yearned for my blood

IV
Grinding bitterness into forgiveness
Pain into power
Took a while
But time which hits and balms
Proved to be a great teacher
With the help of falls and rises

V
Now I look back in hurt
Wanting to be in my dead young
That dead young which buries itself
By the passing of every second
And I look forward in fear
Knowing not what hides
God knows good or bad
I do hate surprises

VI
So I stand on this busy but lone road
Where each is for himself a traveller
Looking back like a destooled queen
Looking forward like a sentenced criminal
Still, I sure must smile
Looking into the faces of happy doves and or vultures
Feeling every bite of every food in my bones
With every sip drawing pictures of time
Drinking my blood sip after sip by the second
This is but a happy sad day
My birthday
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia (c) 2016