Birthday

by BethAnne Yoxsimer Paulsrud

another year
of dishes, laundry, carpool
summer and winter
fall and spring
snow, rain, sunshine
early mornings
sleep-ins
all-nighters
early nights
growing hair
cutting it
growing, cutting
growing, cutting
fine lines
deep furrows
a little more tummy
a lot more grey
pulling you close
pushing you away
and photos--
to prove it all
true
my truth
my year