Birthday

Today is my birthday. Now I am 45. Bithdays have always been a big deal to me; not the whole "Oh, no! I'm older!" but more like "this is my day!" I experience a feeling of portent, too, like Something will happen, though it rarely does -- a holdover from the anticipation of childhood parties, I'm sure. I always remind my loved ones that my birthday is coming because I love it when they give me hugs and wish me a happy birthday, and they are such a clueless and disorganized lot that I wouldn't get any Special Birthday Hugs if I didn't remind them.

I work from 3p-11p today; I didn't ask for the day off since I'm leaving for Minnesota tomorrow. But tonight, I'm going to ask Lucas and Ruby and Len to bring the kids around at 7p, and we shall have cake and ice cream. There is an eating area in the store, two little tables in the corner, that will be fine. Maybe I'll buy party hats. And there will be candles and singing! Now I have a big grin.

Sonnet

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Arabus, When Spurned

They will spin a gyre in macabre ballet
When, soft, summoned to the salted circle.
Whirling mad to the geas they must obey
Shreaks and moans echo fierce as they hurtle

Aloft, the moon draws clouds across her face
And the stars leap back like frightened children.
What searching woman finds no hiding place
There is no haven here, nor ever been.

Like crying hawks with spectral talons dire,
Cruel laughter drowns the wretched, sky-flung screams.
So, snatched and borne up high and ever higher,
Enplaced upon the alter of his dreams.

Future rift, your smold'ring soul bursts afire
In the glowing furnace of my desire.