On The 29th Poem by RIC BASTASA

what shall i recall on the
29th?

shall i recall the squander
of time
and remember how fruitless
is the tree of time

how lushful are the leaves
how strong are the trunks

and yet so fruitless
like someone might have said

that this tree deserves to be cut
and burned?

on the 29th
what shall i tell you about myself?

i shall tell you that i have lived so fully
that i have not wasted all the days of my life

that i have done my duty
that i have kept all my responsibilities

that i have kept my word
to love you with all my soul, my mind, my heart

that i have not betrayed my promise
that i have won my wars

that i have fought loneliness
that i have chosen happiness

on the 29th
i shall throw nothing away

except perhaps this little party
for a few friends

i blow some pains
on those little candles

48 in all, and i will keep the 49th
still for the next

happy birthday to myself.