Becoming ninety is much like
\nbecoming six.
\nI look at the invitation
\nto a charming birthday.
\nStan is on the card
\nwith his six year old face,
\nsquinting as if the sun were
\nin his eyes.
\nAs if he were looking
\ninto the life before him.<\/p>\n
He is asking me to come
\nand play on his ninetieth birthday.
\nBring a pail of sand to build a house.
\nA ball that will bounce six feet high.
\nA piece of candy in a bag.
\nHe is ready to face life again.
\nTo find out what he knows.
\nWhat filled up his heart,
\nand how many dreams
\nwill run a race with him.
\nEnough for today
\nand a little for tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Being ninety, his face is saying,
\nis like being six.
\nHis face has no scowl,
\nno lines of tragedy,
\nno resentment
\nat feeling the years
\ncrawl under his blanket.
\nA happy, beautiful child,
\nwho invites me to his party,
\nand honors me
\nas one of the kids
\nhe wants to play with.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Becoming ninety is much like becoming six. I look at the invitation to a charming birthday. Stan is on the card with his six year…<\/p>\n