Poetry by Charlie Zender

1

Forty for Me
Revised from a ditty for killing time at my fortieth birthday party
Forty orbits eagerly completed Soon one more Unless tonite fate calls me To push daisies through the floor Hallowed bruises from last year's journey Aged into my smiles, still I turn to weep Kiss-and-tell me, I'll delight you So this autobiography eschews sleep With my Men's Group in Tustin I hung We five laughed, sighed, and drummed Rapping on women, fishing, and pride Why do compromise relationships die? Our couples' counsellor was phat Intuitive, probing, raised kind brow "How do you feel? Your Dad did that?" She buried the then so we saw the now My lover's new baby's her book Finally delivered (When may I look?) So our offspring may soon number three . . . Assuming her last chapter includes me And my job? I loved it most every way Despite student cheats, one more meeting today Will I earn life tenure? Does anyone care? My endowment and reward is Liv's paternity Not sparse offices chair-less in eternity


2 Now a mate with spiritual dynamics, I write, swim, share poetry without panics Passion, fear, emptiness, within me lurk So ravishing with love is my true work

Irvine, California and Nice, France March­May, 2004