Birthday

Email from strangers
Voice mail from relatives
who otherwise wouldn’t have called at all.

My bed unmade
My dishes uncleared
clothes left where I dropped them the night before.

A check from Grandpa
A card from Sister
lunch with co-workers who just want out of the office.

Show up late
Leave early
from my work you’d never know I came in.

Surprise flowers
Chocolate truffles
a kiss from someone who is not my wife.

Music from ten years ago
Played far too loud
beloved old shirt my wife is embarrassed to be seen with.

A fancy dinner for two
An extra glass of wine
they give me a free dessert and I order another.

I say "Thank you"
But don’t mean it
because I know I deserve it all.

Eric Scharf
14.Aug.96