to the girl who takes words out of people's minds
who speaks in metaphors, touches thousands of hearts
to the girl who aches for her prince to find
her poetry where it bled in the sea of rose quartz

to the girl who lived for two decades today
to the one who loves to the moon, back and around
the one who sits at the back of the cafe
writing for people whom she surrounds

happiest birthday my dear mermaid of poetry
you've been staying strong for twenty years now
it takes time to be the great person you want to be
you just have to keep your head unbowed

and things may be hard, may be tougher than this
and deadlines will keep trying to break you down
when the time comes you think you won't ever experience bliss
remember you're a mermaid, you can never drown

you've already been living for 7,300 days
eighty season changes in mermaid's time
you have survived all that crazy life chase
i think, my darling, you will be fine.

In the dark
We trudge outside
Stifling yawns
Dogs in stride

Down on the dock
The air is cold
Blankets laid out
My breathing controlled

We snuggle together
Then gaze at the sky
The fog drifts in
The stars feel shy

The dogs roughhouse
One is called home
The other two stay
Niko begins to roam

A cold breeze creeps
Turning my nose blue
The horizon has a glow
Will the lights come through?

The air feels so clear
The ocean so calm
The trees are obscured
An owl starts a song

A dog comes near
She licks my face
Then curls by my side
Like a warm embrace

The stars still flicker
Even if shrouded
The lights on horizon
They become clouded

My eyes start to close
My family is here
I’m surrounded by beauty
The lights disappear

I don’t want to leave
The dog is so warm
My sister’s behind me
I feel her small form

She’s curled up tight
Between momma and me
She’s wearing my hat
And complains she can’t see

I don’t want to go
I could stay here forever
Between the dark sea
And the foggy sky weather

Niko starts whining
What a complaintive old boy
But he’s right it’s late
His bed will bring him joy

Reluctantly we rise
And gather our things
Then we trudge back home
Sleeping till tomorrow sings