For about a year, my self-assigned project was writing a poem - sometimes haiku, or at best, a limerick - for everyone’s birthday. Usually they appeared as public Facebook posts, though some were sent by email, and some even printed on paper and sent by US mail (wow!) Most were for family or church and choir members. (You may see yours here!)
One more thing: read these aloud, that’s how they were made!
This collection is dedicated to Ginny;
and this poem was for her, when she was still having birthdays:
"To dye for" sounds none too dramatic:
this dear fiber artist fantastic
with wool, silk and weeds,
and some magical deeds,
conjures clothing that makes us ecstatic…!
(I am trying to obey Ginny’s motto “go to your studio and make something...!”)
There’s a smart crazy woman named Amy,
a goddess, come down as a sweet pea --
When you need something done,
or just want to have fun:
Wanna know what she says? "HEY, JUST CALL ME!"
For Ann, a weaver:
A thousand threads, a thousand friends, a thousand plans
Some are used, becoming warp in new cloth with someone else's woof
Some are waiting, faithful, patient, piece after piece, year after year, a promise, almost a dream,
well known but unincorporated,
cause for hope or despair
Some, damaged
tattered, faded, coffee stained or just plain weak,
but no less necessary for that attraction
Some lost
long lost and still remembered, fondly turned to sepia,
or lost with no known color,
or lost but always present, vibrantly glowing as empty places in the weave
Some arrive new, surprises from a grab bag,
known now as if always known
A thousand threads, a thousand friends, a thousand plans
none forgotten
none unchanged.
Grace and elegance;
Rapidly expanding world:
--Ashley, loved by all!
For Barbara K:
What a soul! incarnate as beauty,
as caring, as sweetness in power...
Not enough!? --that sinking,
that aching, that burning:
What a soul! remembering home...
For Barbara R:
A woman of countless life treasures
of story, of wisdom, of zeal,
who appreciates simple life pleasures,
understands how to nourish and heal:
Our Barbara delights us,
engages, invites us
to life, in the guise of a meal!
My sister in law:
Angel among us, lover and doer,
performing what's needed with kindness and care.
One day we will know her full glory and grandeur --
for now, we are blessed simply knowing she's there.
Bobbie, retired English professor:
A woman with talents multitudinous
(sports, teaching, and singing melodious)
was a joy to behold --
English tales she told,
and encouraged us all to be studious!
Bonnie the quiet:
She appears quite wondrous to me,
this lover of joy and beauty:
her spirit, so clear,
her presence, so dear;
her life story? to me, only mystery…
In support of her new life:
Here's to our lady, Amanda:
a beauty, a whiz, in command 'a
her manifestation
of prosperization,
also love and deep peace and surrende'
My nephew the young software engineer:
Hey! Magician! Yeah, you.
Don't tell me otherwise:
-what exactly is it you use to make a program?
-electrons, holes, quantum tunnels, fields…?!
Science? Yea, right, tell me another one;
I know a magician when I see one.
Another magician, Cal:
This wizard of sound and computers
helps others to communicate;
--decibels, gigabytes,
all are means to his joy:
to enhance and to facilitate!
My closest sister, Caryl:
When a young girl from Perley goes traveling
who can tell what amazements start happening --
hard work, joy and sadness,
helping kids bloom with kindness --
she packs life with love, full to bursting…!
Her son, environmentalist:
This young man lives in land often snow bound,
though he's traveled east, west, north, south -- all 'round;
With deep care for all people
(and, yes, bird, bear and beetle),
his life mission is clear: to find common ground!
We all know a woman called Bodie,
A Sattva? I’m sure! --Though we can't see
What brought her to Earth,
Or her dreams for this birth,
We can each say "She came just to bless me...!"
David, an old-timer in Fremont,
has as many dear friends as you could want;
he’s lived his life epic,
some crap and much magic--
now he fades, yet he’s born every moment…!
Diane, with all her creatures:
In the woods there once lived a young artist
with a passion for every new interest;
her critters would guide her
in each new endeavor,
but of all of them, she was the smartest.
A woman with a very specific taste in wardrobe color:
She's a writer, a singer, an actor --
her work leaves us all rolling in laughter!
But a color not green
will never be seen
on this woman (-except white, in the choir)...
My brother the minister:
There once was a rev from Wisconsin
who was so kind and good he could not sin.
When a fall from the roof
broke both wrists, he said "Oof!"
and asked friends to come by and swear for him!
Life after life after life of Erica:
Each one harder, each one larger,
each one sweeter.
Each life touches more people,
and is touched by more.
Each life shows more grace,
and in each, she glows brighter.
An advanced soul temporarily lost in an insurance bruhaha:
East coast, West coast,
Dollar-rich, dollar-short,
All one, or each their own,
No-fault? No, No Fault!
An adventure, a thrill, a big ride:
Maya, yes, but surasa or durasa?
Some of each, I guess, the most fun.
But awakening, see, even a glimmer
is overpowering!
Even the sweetest dream can no longer
entice for long...
Ahhh! Home.
Jan (“yawn”), a bass in choir:
Earth-lover, plant-tender, translator,
mixing cultures and bringing delight,
far-seer, truth-sayer,
home builder, sustainer,
Jan, trustworthy, friendly and bright.
Knowing little of Jason, I still know
the one thing that really makes him go;
his most awesome art
is merely a part:
he sculpts life itself into his best show!
For someone who might not actually want their birthday remembered:
There's something I'm supposed to remember today... Leon Trotsky died? No, not that long ago... Hawaii became a state? Still too long ago... George Wallace became governor? No, more personal... 1st flight of the 727? No, more important... Jerry Lynch's home run win!? No, less obtuse... Hmm; let me think about this some more. Meanwhile, have a good day!
(...and their response:) Perhaps the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911? The Beatles coming to Seattle in 1964? ... Hmmm….
Dinner
a Vacation
a Performance
a Bed
a Son
Big Plans
Parties
Sense
Time
Glass
a Speech
Up, Out, and Good
Fun
a Game
S'mores
a Good Husband, Father, and Son
a Photo Album
Tough Decisions
Waves
Money
a Home
Love
a Family
Secure
the Future
Jeff:
the Maker.
A dear friend, a dancer called Dotty
(an enchantress, in fact quite a totty!) --
she creates her new life,
filled with bliss more than strife,
through her choices, intrepid and doughty!
The heart of a woman named Jess
was so big it caused her some distress
to do anything other
than find yet another
plant, creature or human to bless.
And for Jess, after the poetry project was done:
Happy Birthday!
(Her response:) What, no haiku?
No, it's too much work;
I got really sick of that.
Now I just talk nor-
…mal.
Sister Joyce, her birthday's today,
and here's hoping she'll have it her way:
with friends' visits and coffee,
maybe pastries and toffee,
or just time to read, garden, or play…
For my niece-in-law, new to our Norwegian family traditions:
Our friend Judy has taken a risk:
making lefse is exercise brisk!
But this Judy's no slacker,
she takes on what comes at her --
next you know, she'll be cooking lutefisk…!
Julie, my niece, new mother:
You give us babies! -We can't make our own:
we need your skills, your bravery, your heart,
your faith in future (probable or not).
We hold you, therefore, as a deity,
who does impossibilities, who makes
new humans and then washes off oatmeal.
An animal communicator and mystic:
While ignoring all space and time,
oh, and trying to make a dime,
she learned to converse
with animals diverse,
also stumbled upon the divine!
Happy Birthday! Have a great day... no, month... no, the whole year... what the heck, just have a great life, Ok...??!
Kathy, a dear friend and one-time landlady, who “wears many hats”:
Who?
Oh, the piano player, yeah I know her.
No, the engineer, the geek, the coder, she knows everybody, worked everywhere…
Or the aunt, the favorite adult, the one that doesn't suck?
Just a sweet landlady, maybe. Cool house.
Something about apples and chocolate; wasn't the family business named after a road?
Look, there's the Kitten Cam Con lady!
I hear she took on Serious Illness and won…!?
Well, I heard she took on all of Microsoft and won!!
...I wonder who she is now...??
(actually, that road on Vashon Island was named after the business)
Kathy, again:
The cat's eyes are deep and unmoving,
while the girl's eyes keep flashing and dancing --
What makes them a pair?
They both deeply care;
perhaps it's herself each is seeing.
Friends' photos, friends' smiles, friends' faces,
friends' parties, friends' jokes, friends' places:
We all love Keith!
Does he love us,
this friend of ours, funny and gracious…?
For Kenny:
A wise man, a husband, a father
to kids furry with kennel and collar,
slaves at endless tasks,
but replies, when I asks
"Share a beer?" "Yes, I think that I'd rather!"
Niece Kim is Norwegian, but somehow never adopted this cultural secret to happiness...
A sweet woman from Appleton Wisc
(whose baked goodies are not to be missed!)
raised four lovely persons
(all exceed expectations)
-- and that's without even using lutefisk!
Kim’s brother Kirk:
This builder of houses trans-global,
while managing work teams more local,
drives speedboats and horses,
loves cameras, runs courses,
and yet finds time to be "favorite uncle".
Dear Kyle:
He's astonishing, talented, witty,
warm-hearted, cool-headed and smart --
I'd love to work out why
he makes us so happy,
but I'm too busy laughing to start…!
Linda: artist, reader, coach, mystic
The shape of her healing is softness,
its borders torn paper and lace:
she lifts us in brightness,
upholds us in lightness,
reveals our grandeur with her face!
Another Linda, who lives on a nearby houseboat:
As she floats on water, physical
so she floats on grace, spiritual
sharing warmth
sharing bliss
Linda, Love, Miracle!
Gifts for one mother’s journey:
Fifteen year old friend,
music skill, strong families:
a path to self-hood.
A friend Lisa:
You, lover of life:
You, actress, singer, traveler, friend and entertainer:
You, cook and connoisseur, party giver and receiver,
loved by one and always loved by all:
Continue! Have this birthday,
then have another! and another!
Fill the world with your birthdays,
as you fill us with your sweet presence!
Sweet Lori:
This woman makes art in all things:
she blends work-mates like orchestral strings;
from pigments, makes flowers;
cloth art fills her bowers;
she wraps loved ones with love as with wings…
Lorraine started out as a software tester:
Testing.
Testing, 1,2,3,4, can you hear me? Am I On? Am I Listening to you?
Testing a boundary, a rule, an unspoken constraint,
testing one bar in the cage, then another, then another, then another.
Testing a bit, a byte, a word, an instruction, a procedure, a module, an app, a system:
what's weak, what's broken, what's completely asinine?
Testing a color, background, juxtaposition, texture, shape,
movement: this single unending movement.
Testing a relationship, which is also a kind of shape, texture, movement.
Testing a life, a path, a self.
Testing joy itself.
Testing.
My amazing brother collects and restores antique engines of all sorts:
(-Read this one fast: pretend you’re a little engine...)
From Maytags to oil wells: Pistons! (-but do they all have rings?)
Carbs, air mixers (-no injectors wanted, on any of these things),
real spark plugs or just sparks,
hand cranks, ropes, or kick-starts --
He.gets.’em.all.running.at.once, -and then you hear it: gasoline sings!
Maiden, Mother, Crone,
Ageless one: Little Maiyim,
Daughter of the Moon
Recent graduate, in the Peace Corps:
"Friends! Family! Everyone!" she says,
this daughter of the whole world:
"I miss you" and "I love you" and "Please think about this!"
With tender growing skill she sees, deeply;
and her seeing learns to bring life
to life.
For Michael and his online meteorite store:
There once was a man on the Eastside,
who sold rocks on the 'net as a sideline:
saw his business skyrocket,
as he cornered the market
of rocks from the solar system's far side…
Niece Michelle, mother AND journalist:
Faster than a speeding toddler!
More powerful than a sink full of dirty dishes!
Able to leap to a new story assignment in a single bound!
Look, in that line of cars waiting to pick up their kids:
It's a Mom!
It's a Correspondent!
It's Superwoman!
My oldest friend, Neal: music director, courier, musician, teacher, tour director, StreetView driver...!
Dancing arms, luminaria, voices, strings;
Tour busses, camera-studded cars, delivery-things…
Driving always, feeding Googlers,
Teaching always, kids or seniors:
Neal, inspiring always, kindling awe, creating dreams.
Paul:
A man, large and loving yet calm,
loves effects, from wild hat to stink bomb;
when present at events,
you can bet, girls and gents,
he'll delight with bombast and aplomb!
She lost her love to cancer:
It might be courage to simply have a birthday.
To remain in time, counting, counting,
while your love, and your love of your love
(your true selves) are outside it.
And to this courage, love binds even dearer.
Nephew Rolf, PHD, professor:
He walks through the doors of perception,
claims worlds of deep introspection,
but his heart takes wing
hearing his children sing,
proving "father" the greatest profession!
For a glass collecting Hibernophile:
Glass tulips are red, glass Ceilis are heart-ey;
Here's hoping you're having a grand birthday party!
Trip of a lifetime! or one of many?
(-many trips? or many lives!?)
Now, a birthday, one of many:
Open, traveler, grow…!
Stephen:
He lives rainbows, bold and bodacious;
shares his voice, profound and delicious;
he stands tall and bright, and
...straight? no, not quite;
This man takes life keen and voracious!
For Terry, my niece’s look-alike best friend:
"Sister" to my sister's girl,
Friend to her, and friend to me:
You warm our hearts, expand our worlds
with your curiosity.
A precious and beautiful soul,
in a body remarkably whole:
"Teresa", by name;
and "Awakening", by game --
Do we love her?? (-check her FB scroll…!)
My nephew named Thor:
Iron gloves for warmth
Arms love hammer-throwing fun
Yet, hands calm his child
A nerdy old friend who definitely did not want his birthday remembered:
(This should not be said:)
"Happy Birthday Tony Dear"
(-->Control / Alt / Delete!)
For the cutest and most talented little girl in the family:
Willa, Willa, spotlight steal-e'
entertain-e', magic mak-e'
Danc-e', sing-e', backyard swing-e',
Willa, we-lov' you!
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