On Your Birthday Poem by RIC BASTASA

deny, deny everything
the past conversations and those that hurt you
pinching and twisting you
deny them, deny those that make you empty
and useless, those that make you feel
powerless to all these
that confront you
suddenly
like you are unprepared even
for buttoning your shirt
deny, all those that try to harm you, do not
give them access
fill in all the abscesses of your longings
take time in combing your tangled hairs
and making your breasts soft and
supple
hang on to all the good things, the smiling things
those that are sweet and tender and
soft
memories that make you sing
and dance
stretch your arms to the openness of those that
are still to come
laugh, dance and say to yourself
you deserve this break in your life
you are you
and they just don't have the right to take that away from you
woman, lady, lover, mother, girl
child, baby
cell,
thought, love, space