November 15, 2008

Weekend birthday poetry fix


This man is celebrating El Cabrero's 50th.

Today marks my 50th year on the planet. I could think of no better poem for the occasion than "Nature," Longfellow's meditation on aging. Not all my playthings have been taken away yet, but the writing is on the wall.


AS a fond mother, when the day is o’er,
Leads by the hand her little child to bed,
Half willing, half reluctant to be led,
And leave his broken playthings on the floor,
Still gazing at them through the open door,
Nor wholly reassured and comforted
By promises of others in their stead,
Which, though more splendid, may not please him more;
So Nature deals with us, and takes away
Our playthings one by one, and by the hand
Leads us to rest so gently, that we go
Scarce knowing if we wish to go or stay,
Being too full of sleep to understand
How far the unknown transcends the what we know.


GOAT ROPE ADVISORY LEVEL: TRANSCENDENTALLY UNKNOWN

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday - Today is my 40th.

Anonymous said...

I don't exactly remember the day you were born, but I do remember seeing you as a baby. That was several years before the dingleberry adventures. ;-)

El Cabrero said...

2lane4life,
Happy birthday yourself! I remember 40 (I think).

Hey cuz,
The dingleberry affair was pretty classic! Thanks

Wabi-Sabi said...

Happy birthday! You're a powerful and attractive man!

El Cabrero said...

YAPAAM yourself!

Debbie Courson Smith said...

Happy Birthday to you! You're one of my favorite people on the planet, and your blog helps me everyday by reminding me there really are thinking people out there!

El Cabrero said...

Boise Diva,
Thanks for you good wishes and for dropping by the farm!