My Birthday Poem

photo: me and my mother (to whom I owe my strength, and my life)

(Last poem for a while - after 146 poems in 61 days, I am now on sabbatical)

My Birthday Poem

Okay, so this is it:  June 1, 1947.  Time 5:37 a.m.

It’s a girl!

I think I was supposed to be a boy…which is probably why I wanted to be one

Third girl.  No son.

Strange world, all big and everything

Too much room

I want my Womb!

Anyway, I’m stuck here now whether I like it or not

I considered the alternative, I gave it some thought

C’mon, we all have, don’t lie

I fantasized – what if I died?

What would they say at my grave?

She was a good old gal.  She gave it her all,

picked herself up when she took the fall

Instead, I forgave – every last one of them (mostly men)

C’mon, everyone has a past – you have yours,

your dad had his and your mom had hers

Last person on my list to forgive was me

Linda Del Negro.  It’s a girl! (Number three)

I tried my share of substitutes,

but eventually I found my truth

It wasn’t pretty but I made it through

So today I say to myself – to you,

Happy Birthday, Linda!

You did good

Now I love you too 

ldn