This is a little late, since I wrote on my birthday (last saturday, the 20th), but here it is:

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Who's Party Is this?

Is it my party just
because I showed up
took a big breath
and plunged into the crowd?

Sure, I was entertaining,
something novel,
and through all the tears,
giggles, cooing in your ear
etcetera, continued to amuse...

Or should we call it her party,
she who planned it quietly
for many months
thinking about
what would be best to eat,
arranging the extra room,
announcements and decorations?

Was it my party, just because
I showed up, or should we call this
her day, since she's the one
who did all the work
and went to the hospital
for my first birth-day ever,
54 years ago today?


for Ruth Feggestad Stokstad, Dec. 20, 2003


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