A Birthday Chant
Texas 
land south of the Red River
Temperature
one hundred and one
Happiness
in the return
Sadness
in miles left behind
Ft. Worth
on my mind
Exit
one more Hampton Inn
Flowers
for someone special
Birthday
coming tomorrow
Virginia recalls
her birthing-day
In historic
Gruene, Texas
Bed and Breakfast
above the river
Family
planned to celebrate
Arranged
on false expectations
Tears
not to be witnessed
By those
who play games
Be aware
things will be right
And still
we celebrate the moment
Walking
down the street
Window shopping
each passing shore-front
Rain returns
from Dolly’s outer bands
Finding sanctuary
in Gruene Hall
Our pours
open to the past
Sensing
ghosts of yesterday’s lovers
Dancing
the night away
Cords
of blues stringers
Vibrating
the old hall walls
Echoing
through the chicken wire
Leaving
one more for the road
Dinnertime
at the old Grist Mill
Waitress
forgets the birthday cake
Next
after music at the hall
Gifts
focus the remembrance
Opening each
holding back tears
Till sisters
pierce the porcelain face
As only
sisters can do
Always remembering
whether near or far
kenne
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