A poem, for a new friend on his birthday.

Birthday Poem

Welcome here again.
There are men who know
there is a god and there are
rooms full of people who know it.
There is a good price on pitchers of beer.
There is the night cooling outside
when you’ve heard enough music.

Celebrate. Decide again to stay, though
most people would not miss you:
you who will collect nearly
the same books as the others.
You who will feel the same way
about the banjo as it plays.

Baked ziti, Brecht, a factory-made guitar.
It seems in order. But I cannot close my eyes
and if I could, there you would be. There you are.

- September 3, 2006