Birthday Wishes Poem by Jim Yerman

"Today's my birthday! " The little girl announced as she picked a book off of the shelf.
"My birthday wish this year, " she whispered, "was to pick out a book all by myself."

She paid for her book, picked up her bag…and remembered her change too.
then walked into the arms of her parents…the ones who made her wish come true.

As I watched her celebrate with her family and into their embrace dissolve…
I thought of how, over the years, our birthday wishes evolve.

I imagine when I was a baby…to young a wish to make
the only thing I wanted was to get my hands into the icing on my cake.

When I got a little older…moving from a baby to a boy
every birthday wish I made centered on some toy.

Older still I'd close my eyes and blow out the candles' flames
wishing for money…or clothes…or, perhaps, the latest video games.

When I became a husband and a father…my wishes changed…I must profess
I wished my family to remain healthy…that they'd know peace…and happiness.

As my children grew and grew…I'd wish they'd live a life without turmoil…
that they would always make me smile…and give me grandchildren to spoil.

Today's my birthday! …and at 71…having had most of my wishes come true
let me take a moment to share…this birthday wish with you…

I wish for love and happiness…for peace and harmony
to grow another year older surrounded by people I love
and people who love me…

It's actually the same wish on my birthday…now…every year I make…
because if this wish is granted…
then everything else…
Is just icing on the cake.