The people who knew you, know that I was very fortunate to be your son.
If you hadn't passed away, today you would've become seventy-one.
Another year has passed and another birthday has come around.
Seven years ago, you were alive and well but now you're buried in the ground.

When my brother didn't buy you a birthday cake in 2012, I bought you one.
It was both a privilege and an honor to buy you a cake and to be your son.
When you died in 2013, I damn nearly fell apart.
I had to lick my wounds and nurse a broken heart.

We were both born in August and your life is something that I still rejoice.
It was difficult to say goodbye and let you go but sadly, I had no choice.
I wasn't close to Dad or my brother so I had nobody to turn to for support.
Happy Birthday Mom, when you died at the age of 64, your life was cut too short.

[Dedicated to Agnes M. Johnson (1948-2013) who passed away on March 6, 2013.]