Birthday Candles | Teen Ink
  1. Home
  2. Poetry
  3. Free Verse
  4. Birthday Candles

Birthday Candles

December 28, 2011
By marissadele PLATINUM, Danbury, Connecticut
More by this author
marissadele PLATINUM, Danbury, Connecticut
20 articles 3 photos 388 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If you know how you feel, and so clearly what you need to say, you'll know it. I don't think you should wait. I think you should speak now." -Taylor Swift

View profile

The three decker cake stood before me on the table
All thirteen candles lit and waiting,

The wax melting and fading,
And the base plunged into the goodness of vanilla icing

As the spotlight birthday song continued to be sung.
Once it’s over, the candles seem to get brighter,

Smiles seem to get wider,
And the balloons seem to get lighter

As I stare at the round, sugary cake.
I can feel everybody’s eyes on me,
Beckoning my wish to come and blow out the candles,

So that the mocking cake can be devoured.
I can’t think of my wish or how to put it in words;
I feel pressured with all the family’s and camera’s eyes

Poised on me with expectance.
The icing covered cake sweats on the table,

And within seconds I make up my mind
I take a deep breath and blow 12 flaming candles out

And on the 13th I whisper softly,
'I blew out my birthday candles

And wished for you.'

© Meghan T., Scottsdale, AZ

The author's comments:
Dedication:





To Noah,
I will always be wishing for you.
Post a comment
Submit your own

Similar Articles

Previous Next
Poetry
La Push
By Renesmeem BRONZE
SeaTac, Washington
Renesmeem BRONZE, SeaTac, Washington
1 article 0 photos 0 comments
View profile
Poetry
The Protectors' of the World
By Arbys GOLD
Dobbs Ferry, New York
Arbys GOLD, Dobbs Ferry, New York
15 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.&quot;Edgar Allan Poe<br /> &quot;A dream doesn&#039;t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. ~Colin Powell&quot; ~ Colin Powell<br /> &quot;Wisdom is not finally tested in the schools, Wisdom <br /> &quot;A poem is never finished, only abandoned.&quot;-Paul Valery

View profile
Poetry
Solar Lies
By Rachel Bellah BRONZE
Seattle, Washington
Rachel Bellah BRONZE, Seattle, Washington
4 articles 0 photos 1 comment
View profile
Poetry
My New Beginning
By delaney95 GOLD
St. Charles, Missouri
delaney95 GOLD, St. Charles, Missouri
11 articles 5 photos 5 comments
View profile
Poetry
unnamed
By Mew13 SILVER
Princeton, New Jersey
Mew13 SILVER, Princeton, New Jersey
5 articles 0 photos 0 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If there were to be a universal sound depicting peace, I would surly vote for the purr.&quot;<br /> (Barbara L. Diamond)

View profile
Poetry
Nothing good comes from Pyromania
By Nelle PLATINUM
Crewkerne, Other
Nelle PLATINUM, Crewkerne, Other
21 articles 10 photos 49 comments
View profile

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 189 comments.

Wired_To_Inspire PLATINUM said...
on Feb. 18 2012 at 4:37 pm
Wired_To_Inspire PLATINUM, Coopersburg, Pennsylvania
49 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Your mind fights the battles, but your heart wins the war.&quot; -Liz Ruth

View profile
This is so good, and if I were you, I'd send it to a more elete group of workers.
didyou_notice_007 BRONZE said...
on Feb. 18 2012 at 4:35 pm
didyou_notice_007 BRONZE, Wasilla, Alaska
3 articles 0 photos 7 comments
View profile
That was so nice!! I read it to my friend and I thought it was going to be just another normal poem but it wasn't and I liked it a lot!! I read it and then I read your 'Author Comment' and well I have no words for it! I loved it!!(:
Xilaphilaskra BRONZE said...
on Feb. 18 2012 at 4:11 pm
Xilaphilaskra BRONZE, Ypsilanti, Michigan
1 article 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;I&#039;m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can&#039;t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don&#039;t deserve me at my best.&rdquo;

View profile
Amazing i love the last stanza!
marissadele PLATINUM said...
on Feb. 13 2012 at 3:45 pm
marissadele PLATINUM, Danbury, Connecticut
20 articles 3 photos 388 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If you know how you feel, and so clearly what you need to say, you&#039;ll know it. I don&#039;t think you should wait. I think you should speak now.&quot; -Taylor Swift

View profile
Thanks so much!! =)
marissadele PLATINUM said...
on Feb. 13 2012 at 3:44 pm
marissadele PLATINUM, Danbury, Connecticut
20 articles 3 photos 388 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If you know how you feel, and so clearly what you need to say, you&#039;ll know it. I don&#039;t think you should wait. I think you should speak now.&quot; -Taylor Swift

View profile
Thank you! =) and sure! I will asap! :)
marissadele PLATINUM said...
on Feb. 11 2012 at 3:24 pm
marissadele PLATINUM, Danbury, Connecticut
20 articles 3 photos 388 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If you know how you feel, and so clearly what you need to say, you&#039;ll know it. I don&#039;t think you should wait. I think you should speak now.&quot; -Taylor Swift

View profile
thank you! =)
marissadele PLATINUM said...
on Feb. 11 2012 at 3:24 pm
marissadele PLATINUM, Danbury, Connecticut
20 articles 3 photos 388 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If you know how you feel, and so clearly what you need to say, you&#039;ll know it. I don&#039;t think you should wait. I think you should speak now.&quot; -Taylor Swift

View profile
Thanks so much for your perspective--i never really thought of my poem that way! =) ;P
C.K.Snow SILVER said...
on Feb. 11 2012 at 3:05 pm
C.K.Snow SILVER, Morden, Other
6 articles 10 photos 71 comments
View profile
What a lovely article! I love the last lines the best!
zadiekatie23 PLATINUM said...
on Feb. 11 2012 at 3:03 pm
zadiekatie23 PLATINUM, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
39 articles 4 photos 69 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don&#039;t matter and those who matter don&#039;t mind.&quot; - Dr. Seuss

View profile
This really demonstrates the pressures of life and how the simplest things can be escape. Thanks! :)
marissadele PLATINUM said...
on Feb. 11 2012 at 2:28 pm
marissadele PLATINUM, Danbury, Connecticut
20 articles 3 photos 388 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If you know how you feel, and so clearly what you need to say, you&#039;ll know it. I don&#039;t think you should wait. I think you should speak now.&quot; -Taylor Swift

View profile
thanks! =)
AgentOrange789 GOLD said...
on Feb. 9 2012 at 10:51 pm
AgentOrange789 GOLD, Friendswood, Texas
16 articles 0 photos 59 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;It&#039;s a saying they have, that a man has a false heart in his mouth for the world to see, another in his breast to show to his special friends and his family, and the real one, the true one, the secret one, which is never known to anyone except to himself alone, hidden only God knows where.&quot;<br /> -James Clavell, &quot;Shogun&quot;

View profile
Very good! I like how it was all built up for the very last line. I would appreciate if you read my poem "Revelation of Infinity." Thanks.
TheRoadNotTaken said...
on Feb. 9 2012 at 8:41 pm
This was amazing! i love how its kind of like a story too! i thought it would be just a little poem about birthday candles ( even though it kind of is!) But it was really great!
hanna.fofanna BRONZE said...
on Feb. 9 2012 at 6:19 pm
hanna.fofanna BRONZE, Wasilla, Alaska
1 article 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It&rsquo;s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it&rsquo;s a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes str

View profile
This was great:) Well done!
marissadele PLATINUM said...
on Feb. 9 2012 at 5:15 pm
marissadele PLATINUM, Danbury, Connecticut
20 articles 3 photos 388 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If you know how you feel, and so clearly what you need to say, you&#039;ll know it. I don&#039;t think you should wait. I think you should speak now.&quot; -Taylor Swift

View profile
Thank you! =) and oh....lol never really realized that, hehe...whoops...
Blue4indigo PLATINUM said...
on Feb. 6 2012 at 4:33 pm
Blue4indigo PLATINUM, Sturbridge, Connecticut
24 articles 0 photos 382 comments

Favorite Quote:
I&#039;d rather be sorry for something that I did than for something I didn&#039;t do.<br /> -Red Scott

View profile
Lovely work, the descriptions are wonderful, the occasional rhyme is great. The only issue I seem to see is that you tend to switch verb tenses, otherwise great
marissadele PLATINUM said...
on Feb. 6 2012 at 4:21 pm
marissadele PLATINUM, Danbury, Connecticut
20 articles 3 photos 388 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If you know how you feel, and so clearly what you need to say, you&#039;ll know it. I don&#039;t think you should wait. I think you should speak now.&quot; -Taylor Swift

View profile
*of not on
marissadele PLATINUM said...
on Feb. 6 2012 at 4:20 pm
marissadele PLATINUM, Danbury, Connecticut
20 articles 3 photos 388 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If you know how you feel, and so clearly what you need to say, you&#039;ll know it. I don&#039;t think you should wait. I think you should speak now.&quot; -Taylor Swift

View profile
**Please note: because of the new changes to the website as on 2/6/12, my poem's formatting is screwed up.
marissadele PLATINUM said...
on Feb. 4 2012 at 6:05 pm
marissadele PLATINUM, Danbury, Connecticut
20 articles 3 photos 388 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If you know how you feel, and so clearly what you need to say, you&#039;ll know it. I don&#039;t think you should wait. I think you should speak now.&quot; -Taylor Swift

View profile
thank you :)
Xrisi BRONZE said...
on Feb. 4 2012 at 6:04 pm
Xrisi BRONZE, Wichta Falls, Texas
1 article 5 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
A #2 pencil and a dream can take you anywhere.-Joyce A. Myers<br /> Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.-Rabindranath

View profile
ohh i like it
marissadele PLATINUM said...
on Feb. 3 2012 at 10:29 pm
marissadele PLATINUM, Danbury, Connecticut
20 articles 3 photos 388 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If you know how you feel, and so clearly what you need to say, you&#039;ll know it. I don&#039;t think you should wait. I think you should speak now.&quot; -Taylor Swift

View profile
thank you so much! :D