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Happy Birthday

by Sandra Bennett
TCF

“The more alive you are, the more you are aware of death.”

Refusing  At Fifty-Two To Write Sonnets
It came to him that he could nearly count
How many late Aprils he had left to him
In increments of ten or, say, eleven
Thus: sixty-three, seventy-four, eighty-five.
He couldn’t see himself at ninety-six —
Humanity’s advances notwithstanding
In health-care, self-care, or new-age regimens —
What with his habits and family history,
The end he thought is nearer than you think.
The future, thereby bound to its contingencies,
The present moment opens like a gift:
The greening month, the olden week, the blue morning,
The hour’s routine, the minute’s passing glance —
All seem like godsends now. And what to make of this
At the end the word that comes to him is Thanks.“
~ Thomas Lynch ~

Rue
“For what I did
And did not do
And do without
In my old age
Rue, not rage
Against that night
We go into,
Sets me straight
On what to do
Before I die —
Sit in the Shade,
Look at the Sky”
~ Samuel Menashe ~ 

“Hope
is easy and belief is simple in a warm green world. Winter is the
time when man most needs the securities of unshaken certainty,
whether it is the Winter of the soul or the harsh Winter of the year.
I must know Winter if I am to know Spring and Summer. And here is
Winter, with its own wondering and its quiet and its own discoveries,
its solstice and its turn.”  ~ Hal Borland ~


Messenger
“My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird —
equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.

Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? Let me
keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work.

which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished.
The phoebe, the delphinium.
The sheep in the pastures, and the pasture.
Which is mostly rejoicing, since all ingredients are here.

which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart
and these body-clothes,
a mouth with which to give shouts of joy
to the moth and the wren, to the sleep dug-up clam,
telling them all, over and over, how it is
that we live forever.”



A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun.
Enjoy the trip. 
~ Author Unknown ~

Many thanks to Marie Horvath’s blog for some of these poems. 

Happy Birthday to Chris, my friend; we share today but she the elder by mere hours. Happy Birthday to me; may God grant me the desire of my heart which is to follow Him all the days of my life.

Blessings ~ Chris ~ another year ~ April, the cruelest month ~ 

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Comments

  4. Ginny says

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I am so glad we found each other!!! I like all the poems and quotes, The Messenger reminds me a bit of e.e. Cummings, it is very good.

    Reply

  5. Vickie says

    Happy belated birthday! And thanks for sharing these poems and thoughts on life and such. Wish I could write… I know my thoughts, but the words won't come out right. Thinking of you…

    Reply

  6. Chatty Crone says

    ♪♪Happy Birthday to you,♪♪
    ♪♪Happy Birthday to you,♪♪
    ♪♪Happy Birthday Dear Sandra,♪♪
    ♪♪Happy Birthday to you.♪♪

    Hugs being sent your way.
    sandie

    Reply

  8. Anonymous says

    Happy Birthday Sandra! Our grandson is due today…maybe he'll arrive before the day's over.
    Many blessings sister!

    Reply

  15. Anonymous says

    Meant to say 38th Wedding Anniversary in May but celebrate in June, hubby a late October baby, daughter first week of November, I celebrate and spoil hubs and daughter each day in rocktober and november cause they have made my life a real love of God and all that is wonderful in my life..I celebrate many others birthdays cause I never had a birthday or any celebration until my 9th and it was a whopper two classed from the school I attended the split 3/4 class and the other class all 3rd graders..never had another party until I was about 16 & then 21..mot of my family was gone by then, mom & dad, aunts, then my Grandmother right bye my 21st birthday..so I just forget MAY at all costs indeedy, other months are nice in the way the weather cooperates, so why not celebrate then?????? Take care and enjoy your whole year, it is about the journey in life and not the destination….

    Reply

  16. Anonymous says

    I turn 64 in may, never celebrate it at all, nor mothers day or our wedding anniversary, lost all my relatives in May, last of my Mom's family, hot and humid, left the state I was raised in but not born in, went as far as one could in the USA san diego, ca. grama died day before Mother's day, cruel to me, graduated less than 3 weeks later had no one in san diego, ca. left that area..I am not digging ever on my birthday, we celebrate our 38th on my actual birthdate, but do so only in JUNE, love August too although my Mom died the first week of that month, but at least where I reside it is hot that week, sun shining and I don't get depressed but never ever celebrate in May, love APRIL many friends are born in the month you call your birthday..wonderful more family to me than my blood family..Happy Happy take each day as grace from God, one never ever knows how much time one has left on this terrestrial and yes it is about the journey not the destination, peace, joy, love to you…..!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  18. Michelle says

    A blessed anniversary of your birth to you! If I had known, I would have sent a card, but this will have to do.

    That first poem was sobering, now that I'm 50….

    Reply

  19. Prudence says

    Dear Sandra,

    God smiles on you today just as He smiled on you when He formed you. May you feel His love and presence today and find joy in being alive. Thanks for being a blessing to me and the readers of LivingBetterat50.com
    Hugs, Prudence

    Reply

  20. Lady Farmer says

    Oh, Sandra!
    I just knew there was something else I loved about you! We share the same birthday month! My B-day was on the 9th!(I am a few years older, however.)
    I know this will be a difficult day for you, but please give yourself a BIG hug from me and do (or don't do) anything (or nothing) that you want to do today!
    I am still praying for more 'good days in a row' but for something extra special for you today!
    Happy Birthday!

    Reply

  27. Lynne says

    Happy Birthday Sandra . . .
    I loved each of the selections you GAVE to us. I especially liked the Mary Oliver . . .

    I received this yesterday . .. . Author unknown, I thought of you.

    The tide recedes, but leaves behind bright seashells on the sand.
    The sun goes down, but gentle warmth still lingers on the land.
    The music stops, and yet it echoes on in sweet refrain.
    For every joy that passes, something beautiful remains.
    Love, Lynne

    Reply

  32. Jane and Lance Hattatt says

    Hello Sandra:
    We send our warmest wishes and our very best love to you on this, 11th. April, you birthday. Many, many, happy returns.

    And we know that today, like so many days, will not be easy but we do wish you both peace and joy.

    Reply

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