Johnny, since to-day is
February the twelfth when
Neighbours and relations
    Think of you and wish,
Though a staunch Aquarian,
Graciously accept the
Verbal celebrations
      Of a doubtful Fish.

Seven years ago you
Warmed your mother's heart by
Making a successful
    Début on our stage;
Naïveté's an act that
You already know you
Cannot get away with
    Even at your age.

So I wish you first a
Sense of theatre; only
Those who love illusion
    And know it will go far:
Otherwise we spend our
Lives in a confusion
Of what we say and do with
    Who we really are. . . .

~ W.H. Auden  

from Many Happy Returns (for John Rettger)





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While much of the material on these pages is borrowed, other material is original.
In any case, copyright of the page design belongs to Sheryl Todd.