Happy Birthday! Darling. Happy Birthday!
I bet you know half of what I will say
If you have lived twenty to fifty years
You've outlived half of your friends far and near
If you have lived sixty to eighty eight
It's far too late to be told to lose weight
So, whatever your fate, please never curse
You already know that things could be worse
When you lie awake and worry at night
You know that I'm right - a mosqito bite!
Worse than news you saw, a faraway war
It's worse, that's the truth, losing half a tooth
When you reach ninety to one hundred years
Yesterday's troubles don't move you to tears
Whether good people go or bad ones stay
By ten you're in bed and they're far away
If you should reach a hundred and twenty
You'll have gained and lost friends, you've had plenty
No point in mourning the good who have gone
Smile at four-year-olds' birthdays, life moves on.
Because when you reach a hundred plus years
You've outlived most of the world far and near
But there's one last thing which seems rather nice
Everyone listens to your good advice
The question they'll ask, you always knew it
Is, dear one, tell us, how did you do it?
Don't admit that haven't done all that you should
No-one else was there - make up something good.
-ends-.
Please save and share links to your favourite poems.
