Birthright

 My birthright?

Is it my right to be born?

To be torn from my mother

By another

To be scorned by my father

Who would rather

Be free of the conflict?

Ill-equipped to handle

The candle lit

With parental commitment

Birthright

Is it my stage fright?

My right to be terrified

By curious eyes

Wondering what I have to share

And will I dare

Cross any lines

Or exceed my time

Will I be dull and a waste

Of their time and taste

Birthright

Is it my love for twilight

When the moonlight

Kisses the sun goodnight

And the day disappears

As we slow down and face our fears

We don't have to be so polite

Or sunny and bright

We can stop the charade

That all day we played

Birthright

Is it my love for my white knight

Who came in to rewrite

Every red light

Of my past

With true love that will last

He ignites me in the midnight hour

As he unites me with his strength and power

And reminds me

That he is always behind me

Birthright

Is it my fight or flight mentality

Or is it my butt and thighs that make me feel more like a manatee

Is it my tendency to pack light

Or is it my deteriorating height

Is it my near perfect eyesight

Or my intuitive insight

My quick need to indict

Or the way I always avoid the bull fight

Is it my dislike for the spotlight

Or my desire to say, "Go fly a kite!"

My birthright

Might

Not always be the bequest

I would request

But life can be a test

And I confess

I rather like some of my inheritance

Like my stubborness

And lack of arrogance

And my desire to always be a good Samaritan

My heritage

Of a 70yr marriage

Lullabies in the baby carriage

Hard work in the cotton fields

Prayers that would yield

Results from above

Discipline wielded in love

Help in an instant

Even for a nemesis

That's my inheritance

That's the birthright

I'll hold tight

Parents who do their best

In this quest

Of life and death

Offer more, while having less

Give your best

And save the rest

For the therapist

My birthright 

Is to act right

To be right

To do right

And to be a light

For anyone trapped in the dark of night