Thoughts On Turning 30

They wish me 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' or even 'many happy returns of the day'. My folks send me gifts and greeting congratulating me on a life that's fleeting? A birthday complete with cakes in the color of my choice Granted that birthdays are a celebration for to rejoice Yet I can act pessimistic on this To see the hour-glass of life half empty rather than half full. For I can vision each birthday as a step closer to old age A step closer to dreaded death It's hard to look forward to going gaga or decrepit when smooth skin would become crumpled, wrinkled The age of doddering limbs half in the grave Thus in one aspect each birthday to me is a step closer to the end of a lifetime A step closer to the unwanted guest - senility That reverting to child-like debility The dwindling of all agility So I've mixed feelings about celebrating the nearing of the time when we'd play back 'em' flash-backs and in the mind re-live our life tracks when everything would trickle down to mere memories with ample time to linger upon life's souvenirs When we would merely walk down memory lane So to see it this way A birthday is a step forward but towards thy graveyard The road might be longer or unfortunately end abruptly in a short cut to heaven or to hell bard or no bard! Yet despite knowing all this, I'm always happy come my birthdays Contented and spirited, flying around chattering like pretty jays