Herbert Nehrlich - ....and many happy returns

Herbert Nehrlich - ....and many happy returns

He had just celebrated, br with kindred friends and spirits br his seventieth. br The guests now gone br and one could hear br the squeaking of his rocking chair br accompanied by birds, br who, in the tropics, sing at night br as well, it set the stage br for melancholy reminiscence br about the crossroads he had reached br where spectators just stood, br observing him with friendly faces br and the benevolence of man. br br The specialist had said 'you will be fine', br though using neutral words to intimate br that things were in control, br that modern medicine would win br with weapons like FU, his special chemo. br There was a climate that surrounded br and pampered him, as if to say br 'because we like you, Jim, you'll be okay.' br br br And so, there was no need to fret, br to get some order into his affairs. br He looked again at the physician's card, br with HAPPY BIRTHDAY in fluorescent letters. br He read the text again, but searched, br in vain for what was old tradition: br Returns, the many happy ones! br It was not there, perhaps an oversight? br br A shadow crossed his tired face br when from within a voice sang out, br it told him what he knew to be br the truth, that this would be his very last.


User: PoemHunter.com

Views: 4

Uploaded: 2014-11-07

Duration: 01:42

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