Friday, July 17, 2020

Welcome to Club Sixty-one

It's my sixty-first birthday today and I'd like to write a poem about reaching sixty-one.

When you have finished six decades of your life in this world
and you begin your first step into the seventh
you're in Club Sixty-one

When being long-sighted and having to wear multi-focal glasses
has become a norm rather than a bother
you're in Club Sixty-one

When having HIV means hair is vanishing
and black hair is something to dye for
you're in Club Sixty-one

When you can sing heartily while brushing your teeth
because those are your dentures in your hands
you're in Club Sixty-one

Club Sixty-one
The place where you heave a sigh of relief
that you have pulled through sixty years
of difficulties and insurmountable odds

Club Sixty-one
The place where you look back with pride
at sixty-years of personal achievements
whether big or small, notable or obscure

As you leave behind six decades of your life
and put your best foot forward
into the seventh,
Welcome to Club Sixty-one.

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