there is always something new that happens on your birthdays there's that old new thing or that new old one revived from the past and relived in our time
remembering the ice cream we ate on the roof at high noon the patient-pedalling, butt-aching, hilariously-falling on a BMX the bandage on your knee and the tear it left on your colorful corduroy jeans that short wait for the jeepney to ride to get back home wondering if you'd tell your folks that you had just rebelled against their no-biking-on-the-highways-rule of course, for you it would always be no
remembering the karaoke night for your debut you, holding me accountable for the number of bottles you'll finish and I, uncertain if I would grant your wish or if I'd leave you to your fun or that aqua green Faber Castell adhesive that I used for the first time when we were trying to figure out how to stick the balloons and party strips to the walls without leaving a mark
but you just can't help it, can you? that's just who you are you'd always leave a mark on every road you'd walk on ----or stumble upon, most likely---- may it be irresistible charm or unrequited love or quirky ways and quaint tastes or that deep patience and compassion that seeks to mediate the stars that have long been drifting apart, to risk being in between for the sake of keeping both extremes
the sun is far from setting and you don't have to have it all figured out already you're alright you're doing fine I thank you for being crazy with me and at the same time, smart and then sappy on most occasions, a little too dorky or sometimes just deadpan serious I'm not even sure if this is still some poem but I really just wanted to greet you a happy line-of-two happy birthday to u (/ ; 3 ;)/ ~~
love, muting