It's Your Birthday And I'll Cry If I Want To

Happy birthday mum
I wish you were here
I wish I could say many happy returns
Fill your lonely world with cheer

You would have been 80 today
Had you not passed away
That's pretty good innings
Isn't that what they say?

I wish you could see her
The granddaughter you always dreamt of
She's so incredibly beautiful
Just like an angel from above

I named her Erin Isabella
I think you would have liked that name
Bella after your dear mother
Like dad, she has the blue eyes the same.

Alex is growing fast
He's so very handsome and clever
You would be so proud of his swimming
Like a fish that goes on forever and ever.

His memories of you are fading
But I still show him pictures of you together
Tell him stories of when I grew up
Like going to the beach in any weather.

I miss you mum every day
Despite our varied history
I even miss your Sunday phone calls
With all their intoxicated mystery.

You were the one who phoned me
When it was Mother's Day
To make sure I was always alright
When the other half was away.

But it's only now I'm older
I can see how you easily fell
You just weren't strong enough
To break alcohols numbing spell.

So today I will raise a glass
And shed one last tear
Happy Birthday mum
Because 80 would have been a damn fine year.