"My Birthday", by Susan Coolidge

[med_cat]

My Birthday

Susan Coolidge

Who is this who gently slips
Through my door, and stands and sighs,
Hovering in a soft eclipse,
With a finger on her lips
And a meaning in her eyes?

Once she came to visit me
In white robes with festal airs,
Glad surprises, songs of glee;
Now in silence cometh she,
And a sombre garb she wears.

Once I waited and was tired,
Chid her visits as too few;
Crownless now and undesired,
She to seek me is inspired
Oftener than she used to do.

Grave her coming is and still,
Sober her appealing mien,
Tender thoughts her glances fill;
But I shudder, as one will
When an open grave is seen.

Wherefore, friend,--for friend thou art,--
Should I wrong thee thus and grieve?
Wherefore push thee from my heart?
Of my morning thou wert part;
Be a part too of my eve.

See, I hold my hand to meet
That cool, shadowy hand of thine;
Hold it firmly, it is sweet
Thus to clasp and thus to greet,
Though no more in full sunshine.

Come and freely seek my door,
I will open willingly;
I will chide the past no more,
Looking to the things before,
Led by pathways known to thee.

Comments

[duathir.livejournal.com]

Wise words; thank you.

[med_cat]

You're welcome; pleased you found it so ;)

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

Thank you; I love this. But, y'know, for me it's kind of worked the opposite way. In my youth, I was always sad on my birthday, ever since the day my Dad said, just off-hand, "You'll never be five again". But now, in my happy Cronehood, I don't mind that I'll never be 59 again - I'm jubilant to have made it to 60, and from here, making it to 100 doesn't look so hard. ^^

[med_cat]

You're welcome!

And I'm glad it's worked the other way for you :))