Bob on You Grows

for Robert “Austin Powers” Zender, turning seventy but forever young
to the tune of “Anything Goes” by Cole Porter Bob has aged
but he’s looking swell and hale
so let us retell the tale
of our favorite ne’er do well;
Valley Stream
Is about a half world away,
From this beautiful mountain dale,
In Sutter Creek California.
His father worked there before him, and
Bob spent forty-four years without boredom,
Alarming them
at IBM.
He rode to work so iconoclastic
Hundred percent club was fantastic, heaven knows
Where that hair goes?
That Harley fits Bob Zender
His son John Zender,
Not Linda Zender,
Nor sisters Zender,
Nor Charlie Zender,
But every Zender,
Loves the sound when it goes;
Your granddaughter fair Olivia
Loves to come ’round to see ya’, everyone knows
Bob on you grows.
I-5 & Sutter Creek, California, June, 2001
Irvine, California, May, 2003