My 60th Birthday

By Gary Bernard

What left have I
When I turn around
to see my footprints fade
And time in a child's cradle
Gives it a brief look
Only to be surprised again
And again
As History is a fool's child
Because it's sixty years
And my birthday
And the mariachis
Martin and the staff surprise me with
And seventy people and more
And it was supposed to rain
But it didn't
And the sun nestled in the puff of clouds
And the garden that tried to thaw
In the weeks past the February freeze
And cousin Ron leaned over to me
"Gary" he said
"All the people are here because they love you"
And Diane brought me a diabetic cake
And Adam was on time
And the mixture of work
And friends and family
Like all old friends and family
Talked and strummed guitars
And ate
And the shoulder surgery that hasn't properly healed
And the tax audit
And people enjoying themselves
All friends, all family
All the people
I love