The Birthday Party

"Is this where Jim lives?"

Queried the postman Klaus,

By the gleam in his eye you could tell

something special it was

"That will be me i think,"

said a boy with delight

No more than twenty he was

From what gathers ones sight

"Happy Birthday Jim"

"Methinks, the gift has found its bearer"

Said the card and the postman

to make the moment clearer

Jim,his joy knew no bounds,

Grabbed the packet and rushed in

Set it down on the table

eyeing it with an infectious grin

Tore open he, the shimmering red paper

that bedecked what he was about to behold

"Oh heavenly joy, its a fountain pen"

Bejewelled in precious gold

Jim held it high and danced

and whirled around on his toes

Pearls streamed down his cheeks

"Tears of joy", as the saying goes.

Amidst the rejoicing

Again did the bell ring

Stopping his heart for just w beat

Anxiously waiting in glee

Called out another delivery boy

For our boy Jim,

a sparkling parcel he too had

Jim's joy knew not how to dim

So began a constant trickle of gifts,

a deluge it turned out to be

Many had wished him well

and prayed, long live may he.

Jim smiled, for he knew

How by all, he was loved

By distant relative of flesh and blood

Friends and kind souls unheard

And then the clock called time

for the cake to be cut

FOr candles to be blown out

And for the music to unshut

Sure enough,

'twas a chocolate cake

One with cream and cherries on top

Must have taken an effort to bake

As he held the knife

and blew the candles out

He could hear the singing

and clapping all about

"And here goes the first piece,"

"Who wants this from me?"

With his gleaming blue eyes

No one around him, could he see

The music was playing

the bulbs glowing soft and bright

But there was not a face

He could see in his sights

And with an unflinching heart

He realises whats been all along

He is the only one there

Among solo dance and silent song

For all those gifts

Travelled mile and day

And came back to the same door

where now they lay

For resulted they

from memories existent

Of being all alone

Tender of age and unabundant

But far from it

Jim enjoys his time

He sings and dances and fools around

and also does the pantomime

He plays the perfect host

He holds no sorrow

He bids his guests farewell

"Good night, drive safe and see you tomorrow!"

What happiness it is

That money could buy

Drape a shimmering cloak over reality

And be glad to live a lie

Was Jim wrong

in not feeling sad

In deceiving himself

with what he never had?