Commercial Birthday Wishes

A birthday card or a sign of the times?

Filled with meaningless tripe in trite little rhymes

I peered at the cover, gave a smile and nod,

‘Did you read what’s inside?’ I supposed that I should.

I read out the ditty, forced a mirthless laugh,

Feigned a satisfied smile at this impersonal chaff,

‘Where will you put it?’, oh, I’ll find the right place,

I glanced at the bin with a smirk on my face.

‘Took me ages to find it, I searched high and low’,

Strange, the tag on the back’s from the garage down the road,

Hastily purchased, not a thought, not a care,

Arbitrary wishes, insubstantial as air.

“Oooooh just popped in, can’t stay, must go…”

The relief that I felt I took pains not to show,

As I waved at the door I reflected and sigh ed

Is this the person I’ve become or just a sign of the times?