Her eighty candles sputtered
on the chocolate syrup.
Her wishes mutely uttered.
The birthday cake was lit up.
The knife in her restless wrist.
And eyes could no longer feign.
Tongue found it hard to resist.
She was one year old again.
Happy birthday mother dear.
I know you are somewhere near.
Her picture hung on the wall
staring silently at him.
Her memories caused tear-fall-
sweet, salted, spicy, untrimmed.
The echo of her laughter
hummed like a musical chime.
But the pain felt thereafter
for she left before her time.
He flipped her frame with a sigh
to calm his watery eyes.
Gazing out seeking no one-
he sat by the tall windows.
His brows betrayed what he yearned.
His eyes saw just her shadows.
His ears perked up to a song
that played somewhere far away.
She used to whistle along,
and would always make him sway.
He sipped his kapi and smiled.
He would meet her down the mile.
