Knowing you may want no gift, I give you my thoughts instead

Carry them with you or leave here on the page

Either way I hope your spirits they may cheer

And allure onto your sweet face a smile on your day

My Lady, may the future obey your dreams

For true happiness I hope you find. I speak these from my heart

As there is no sleight of hand in these words

Think of today as a new chapter, a new start

Never let the fire of your true desires

Be extinguished or denied. Or locked silent through fear

Never let them wane or wither

Defend them, cherish them. Hold them close. Hold them dear

Find peace, so one day there are no stockades in between us

So we can share our true feelings as simply as we share cigarettes

–o–

Although I never said it much then

Once you peel away the mistakes

And discard the masks we foolishly once wore

What is left?

You were my strength and my inspiration and no man could ever hope to feel

What I felt and how you made me rejoice

From every sundown to every morrow

In my heart you were always at my side. You, my best friend, never alone

Today on your day, and regardless of distance, whether physical or emotional

You are not alone!

Have a drink or two or three. Have another one and perhaps spare a thought for me

I blow a whisper onto the wind to carry. An ode to you I set free