Birthday Girl

Hunched against the sleeting rain, striding on with confident walk
He mounts the crest of the final down and stands atop the cliff of chalk.
Consumed by rolling fields and hills, he writes the card with shaking hand
Bottles it and corks it up, then throws it clear of this fair land.
Sent tumbling down to the sea below, consumed by waves of spume-flecked grey
It sinks then floats and is swiftly gone as currents tear his heart away.
A year has passed and it comes to rest, like driftwood hidden in the sand.
And walking there the birthday girl scoops it up in muffled hand
She knows its hers, fate has called and she hears his whisper in her ear.
She reads the words and catches her breath as the wind blows away a salty tear.