©Sophia Auer, 2009
for my friends on my fiftieth birthday
You’re up there now on the scaffolding
Taking a break.
One of you pours coffee
From a steel thermos,
Another skips an orange peel
Across the pond of the air.
One of you talks with your mouth
Full of ham sandwich,
Telling a story so funny
That the others dab at their eyes.
I thought you only read books
And kept your nails clean,
But there you are,
Welding the cracks of my heart,
Flowing the seams silver
And smooth as waves on a beach.
Shimmering, reticulate,
My heart has never been so beautiful
And so whole.
©Tom Dunlap, 2009
Tom Dunlap is an alumnus of the 1993 BAWP summer invitational program, a devoted regular at the spring writing retreat, and a teacher in the Young Writers’ Camp for several summers. He taught English in Nebraska and California for 18 years before choosing to go solo as a tutor for high school and middle school students in English, math, and test preparation; he also substitute teaches. He loves his wife and children, writing, humor, and his gifted dog Satchel.
DP 
July 5, 2009 at 4:37 pm
lovely!
July 9, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Jessica,
Your single word of praise made my morning! Thank you!
Tom
July 9, 2009 at 4:36 pm
I love it. It makes me want to go to the cricible.
July 9, 2009 at 4:37 pm
I mean crucible?
July 9, 2009 at 4:41 pm
My favorite line is the one about skipping an orange peel across the pond of air. Also I love the voyeristic feeling of the poem – watching someone you love when they are unaware.
July 9, 2009 at 4:44 pm
How wonderful to be the recipients of this beautiful poem on the occasion of your birthday! I can almost hear that funny story!
July 21, 2011 at 10:14 pm
Tom – it’s beautiful and wonderful!
Judy