I used to
Send flowers to
My mother on
My birthday thanking
Her for giving
Me this precious
Gift called life
Since she’s been
Gone I now
Do just this
On my special
Day I want
To wish you
All a very
Happy Birthday on
Your special day
Whenever that is
I used to
Send flowers to
My mother on
My birthday thanking
Her for giving
Me this precious
Gift called life
Since she’s been
Gone I now
Do just this
On my special
Day I want
To wish you
All a very
Happy Birthday on
Your special day
Whenever that is
Just like rain
That fell on
Drought crops or
Late winter snows
Blanket brown grass
Your teasing and
Laughter brought me
Back to life
When I was
On my knees
You reached down
And helped me
To my feet
Showing me rainbows
I’m living now
More than ever
Fresh air in
And bad out
Like a billow
To a dying
Fire you brought
Me to life
And then when
I thought I
Would never again
Drink the spigot
Of you quenched
My parchness like
Lazy falling rain
Bathes blossoms or
Fire hydrants tease
Dancing children on
Hot summer streets
Now sated leaning
Against you I
Wonder looking up
Did you know
I couldn’t speak
Except with lips
And then you
Said you’ve never
Had romance yet
Loved love is
In essence romance
It’s first flight
For a hatchling
And that initial
Skidded landing on
Marshy lake it’s
That one taste
Of snow and
Your first bitter
Lick of lemon
Romance is eyes
And smiles and
Chagrin caught staring
It’s that first
Tentative touch and
Oh yes that
First cautious kiss
This is romance
And to you
My dear boy
Poetry romance lives
There is but
One thing not
Tied to age
But makes everything
Else matter makes
Everything breathe and
Grow and end
It lives beyond
And beyond us
It’s something that
We all have
And rightly give
It is love