Fifty-eight
birthdays
But,
actually: one
This is the
only one
That exists
The others
have passed
Or have not
yet come
And so, this
is the only one
That matters
The first
one
We celebrate
together
Sometimes it
seems
So strange
How we found
each other
And we are
still
Getting to
know us
But it is my
privilege
To see what
is really
Back there
Past the big
muscles
And the
bigger laugh
The
beautiful voice
The handsome
face
Behind what
you
Show everyone
else
It is real
And messy
And true
But also –
Beautiful
And there is
weakness
And softness
Love
Pain
Sadness
And fear
But you are
wrong
Wrong
If you think
That is it -
That
That is all
There is
Because I
have seen
More
Beneath the
softness
That hides
Behind your
mask
Deep in the
middle
In the quiet
In the dark
There is
something else
You
The real you
Curled like
A bird
Inside an
egg
Sitting like
A prisoner
In solitary
Quietly ticking
like
A clock
Waiting
Waiting
And
I see you,
in there
I see you
