Meridith's Birthday
2-16-06

Sometimes little songs linger
too long in our inner ear,
we follow them as if they
are nightengales with sharp
eyes and thier wings beat
too harsh, some say, false,
but Meridith on your birthday
there is that lush truth
that runs with the wild birds
and sits calm on the edge
of the precipice, your legs
hanging as if on a swing,
your head up, looking at stars
in a daylight sky, but then
with great noise, as if light
began and ended with your hands
like St. Anne enclosed with
that wonder you take as brew
to keep your integrity and rise
over the last summer field
in a great hot air balloon
free of every other fear

Yes, you will write great poems
There will be tumult and applause.

The storms will vary between
charm and your stoic serenade

There is always opposites
in the great loom of words
that appear as a faint breeze
but end in the long ride
out of history into fame.