Cousin’s 80th

before we arrived
May shower, rushed
food and guests inside

first cousin’s friends
crowd cozy living room
and stay dry

guest book is numbers
tall green eight, white aught
we sign on the white

two second cousins
I hadn’t seen for some time
view my family video

over extended on ice
son-in-law explains complex leg brace
knee, immobile down to ankle

couple seated near
are cousin’s church friends
for over fifty years

this stage of life
birthdays, longevity are celebrated
mortality acknowledged

Palmer R. Haynes
© May 2015

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