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Birthdays After Seventy


Why count the years when
mirror after mirror does it well?
But what the hell? I do feel
younger than I think the number
is supposed to tell.

Another cup of coffee as I sit in bed
looking out and into trees,
the turning leaves of fall.
My autumn too,
as late and long
as it will be.

It’s good that we don’t know
how many autumns,
winters, springs
and summers we will have.

Just smile,
and drink the cup,
and be.


November 16, 2019, one of my many birthdays


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