Easter Birthday

LINES FOR BELLE ON EASTER

            For Christ plays in 10,000 places,

            and lovely in limbs not his

                        Gerard Manley Hopkins

The day after you turn 17

we celebrate your birthday

singing the greatest words

we know: Flower, bloom,

praise and wonder. And singing

at worship, or greeting each other

at the front door, it all seems

truer than it's ever been--

It's all true! we say,

Things are newer with me

than they've ever been!

Your Dad is coming with cake,

Your family surrounds in song.

We watch you swinging back and forth

leading your sisters into womanhood,

putting doll clothes on the puppy.

Grandpa Jim

21 April 2019