Sonnet 256. To Make Memorable the First Minutes of Susan Lavender’s 70th Birthday.
Though death may soon descend there’s time to play,
And life’s great theatre has parts for all.
Each new connection made still makes us say:
“This sharpened world has all a length and foils.”
We wonder will the lights come up again,
Resuscitating, on our stage, the role
We make when we direct and use our pain
Enough to give us power to endure?
The un-killed lawyer’s Second? Third? Fourth Act?
Is substance for the fleshing out of rhyme,
But there’s no law that saves us from the fact
That now is how we choose to spend our time.
And you have chosen to be here with us.
And this is my small gift of hope and love.
Andrew Barker
4 окт 2024
