A/N: I thought it suited this poem better to be aligned towards the left. And as always, the little dashes represent the spacings between stanzas :) Well, what do you think of this poem? It's the first time I've tried to adopt a maternal point of view... Not having reached that age yet (thankfully), I'm not sure ifthis poem conveys that much poignancy...

Dear Little Girl

-

Happy birthday, little girl

Two candles, seemingly mighty twin fortresses

Perch atop the delightful hill of your chocolate cake

Merrily alight with your happiness –

In truth, merely a weak flickering flame.

I wish I could be there, right next to you:

Just me and you, celebrating your joy

But there are people everywhere

A buzzing barrier of happy adults

Laughing, smiling, patting your hair…

-

I can’t get close.

I am an outsider.

-

Your adoptive parents gaze fondly on –

Will you ever learn the truth?

– You blow the candles –

Will your own flame of happiness be snuffed out

Should anyone breathe a word of your parentage?

Better then that you should never know:

I alone shall bear the sorrowful knowledge.

Forgive my absence on your future birthdays;

I will send you my silent love

And pray that you receive my thoughts.

-

Happy birthday, “little girl”

For I am not allowed to call you “daughter”.