Happy Birthday Poem by Za7ra Sulaiman

happy birthday dearest me,

how ironic, i am so benevolent to others but,
to my own, I haven't always been so kind,
To this soft soul and quiet mind.
I dodged the mirrors on my way,
As if the truth would fade away.

Each flaw I saw, each sleepless trace,
Each sorrow curved upon my face.
My gaze, unkind—a sharpened dart,
Never touched this tender heart.

I wish I'd known to treat me right,
To see myself in softer light.
For she is beauty, calm and rare,
A breath of peace in heavy air.

Yet never once did I embrace
The girl behind that fragile face.
Not once, a whisper, kind and true—
Not once, a gentle 'I love you.'

But maybe soon, I'll come to see
That she is more than hurt can be.
Her glow survives the darkest skies,
Still shining, though she can't realize.

She doesn't need to beg for grace,
It's written in her soul, her face.
happy birthday dearest self.