I celebrate the second,
\nthird and fourth things of life,
\nor the 150th or 322 1\/2 things.
\nThings in transition,
\nbeing translated,
\nrising like Lazarus.
\nI raise my glass,
\nto you, the 50th star rise
\nof childhood.
\nTo you, the girl I kissed twice,
\nand the third stolen kiss
\nwhen we parted.
\nTo you, the very last in the class,
\nthe nether moon,
\nthe sublime middle grain of sand
\non the shore.
\nThe smallest fish ever taken
\nfrom the sea,
\nand mercifully returned.<\/p>\n
To all of you who were never first,
\nto all things that came after.
\nTo the second universe that
\nbloomed with light.
\nTo love at second, third or fourth sight.
\nTo everyone a reward
\nfor the 10th act of kindness,
\nand many more.
\nTo the breaker of rules
\nand the embrace of suppleness.
\nAll first things be rewarded for bravery,
\nfor standing alone,
\nfor opening a door,
\nfor being there.<\/p>\n
I salute the wine
\nthat\u2019s savored on the 20th year.
\nThe words that come
\nmany words removed,
\naged with love,
\nfor everything overlooked.
\nFor being lost in the crowd,
\na banquet of appreciation,
\nan embrace
\nfor contribution and beauty
\ncoming into itself.
\nAnd a shout of joy
\nat being part of a sky,
\nan ocean,
\na spirit born over time,
\nbeautiful,
\nsacred,
\nglorious for the part it\u2019s playing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I celebrate the second, third and fourth things of life, or the 150th or 322 1\/2 things. Things in transition, being translated, rising like Lazarus.…<\/p>\n