Not surprisingly I
Am giddy with
Glee like a
Child amidst boxes
Paper and ribbon
On Christmas morn
Saturated with newness
And lovely surprise
Like an excited
Puppy my happiness
Does embarrass me
But instead of
Tail my tongue
Wags too much
Excuse my verbosity
I mean no
Harm except to
Simply say weeeeee
For you are
In my life
So we met
At long last
Two men together
As friends we
Dined and drank
Laughed and listened
Talked and wished
But all we
Were were children
Playing at beach
Trucks and bulldozers
Laying a foundation
That not even
The days tides
Could wash away
That is us
Children around each
Other simply dreaming
Do you remember
When or how
We did meet
Hey or hello
But Piggy oh
Piggy we became
Friends and the
Occasional lover but
More you became
A vase in
Which the bouquets
Of my poems
Sat blossoming and
Blooming for the
World to see
Readers help me
Wish Piggy a
Warm birthday on
This happiest happiest
Happy of days
Happy Birthday Piggy
Lovers are like
Newspapers crisp a
Bit fragile and
Temporary read once
But you Muenster
You’re like my
Favorite book highlighted
And dog eared
Used and read
At the ready
When comfort is
Needed or like
The oak under
Which I nap
On lazy summer
Afternoons your canopy
Outstretched protecting me
And so I
Start the year
New single alone
A place of
Focus and strength
Rebirth and humility
Humanity and compassion
Hope and love
I know that
This year will
Be a better
Year than before
Because you’re all
Still in it
Happy New Year
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 