Today is my birthday.
I am 28 years old.

I spent most of 27
ignorant of the fact,
when asked for my age
I would answer with 28.

I was ahead of my time.

I was never corrected because
why else would they ask me.

What it means, I don’t know
but there’s a song about that,
it came out in 8th or 9th grade.

Do I want someone
to come bake me a cake
and buy me balloons
to carry with me all day,
like girls in highschool,

Or do I want someone
to grow apart from
but first take me to a dive bar
and help me lul out my vomit.

At this moment, as I type,
I sit behind the valet stand
for my fifth shift this week,
working the overnight
which I prefer over days
as it allows me write,
and so I am thankful.

I’m at a hundred in tips
so far, which is solid.

Salad days, they say.