Turning Fifty

Having known war and peaceand loss and finding,

I drink my coffee and waitfor the sun to rise,

With kitchen swept, cat fed,the day will quiet,

I taste my fifty yearshere in the cup.

Outside the green birds comefor bread and water.

Their wings wait for the sunto show their colours.

I'll show my colours too.

Though we've pollutedeven this air I

And spoiled green earth;though, granted life or death,death's what we're chosing,and though these years we livescar flesh and mind,still, as the sun comes upbearing my birthday,having met time and loveI raise my cup -dark, bitter, neutral, clean,sober as the morning -to all I've seen and known -to this new sun.