Sitting silently smiling and nodding
At your birthday table, as yet
another year has passed and still counting.
Four generations of your family are present.
Did you ever think you'd see so many descendants?
When you were shooting hoops or scoring goals,
did you think you would live to 90 some years all told?
When you were playing the viola, piano, and violin,
was it your plan to live so long? Was that your vision back then?
Did any of your dreams come true?
Did your choices reflect the glory of you?
A nurse, a banker, a wife, and mother.
Did your life give you more or less joy, enough to cover
the spills and challenges in your life that you discovered?
Several years have trespassed and along with them
births, deaths, weddings, songs, and sadness.
You're now in a home where there isn't much gladness,
save once a week when family comes to visit to break up the madness.
Do your caretakers see who you really are?
The daughter, sister, musician, athlete, wife, and mother?
The nurse, nurturer, a woman of strength beyond measure?
Do they see Eleanore Mildred, or just grandma and mother?
The strength of your family has been sustained
by the passing on of your life's lessons, and love that you gained.
Ah youth, adolescence, maturity, and dotage.
May you end as you began, God's beloved child of light and love!
Raise your glass and be toasted!
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteTheresa :)