Blackout Birthday

(mmmmm) This is the year I play pretend

Blow the match out,

start again

Happy birthday, make it loud

Dancing in a borrowed shroud (yeah) Stranger in the mirror staring back

at me

Wearing the silk I bought on eighth street

I don't recognize the collar or the seams But I wear it

anyway for the gallery

Thrift-store mirror selfie on my phone

Looking like someone I used to know

Now I'm sitting at the head of the table

Trying to keep my breathing stable

This is the year I play pretend

Blow the match out,

start again

Happy birthday, make it loud

Dancing in a borrowed shroud (oh-oh-oh)

Blackout cake with charcoal on the plate

Everybody smiling, telling me

it's

late

I check the picture

on the glowing screen Caught between the real and the unseen Thrift-store

mirror selfie on my phone

Looking like someone I used to know

Now I'm sitting at the head of the table

Trying to keep my breathing stable

This is the year I play pretend

Blow the match out,

start again (start again) Happy birthday,

make it loud