At 73 Comments

A well texted and nicely thought out poem. A beautiful creation. Thanks for sharing and do remain enriched.

(cont.) Kim's comment clarified for me which " wall" you refer to. i visited a 'traveling wall' many years ago. the Vietnam memorial wall (original in Washington D.C.) is where my younger bro (VN non-combatant vet) volunteered for several years on Memorial? Day, helping people to find names of U.S. military who died in? VN due to the " conflict" . I hope you can celebrate at least one more birthday (74) with friends. bri ;)

Hank, Since my comment of 2-3 days ago hasn't shown up..... Memories can be nice and not-so-nice. i hope and bet that at least some were nice. (cont.)

Hey! ! ! there should be a multi- part comment from earlier from me, below. come on PH! !

(cont.) Memories can be pleasant or not-so-much. I suppose yours(?) were some of both. Be well. Then kick the bucket painlessly. bri :) p.s. Now I read Kim's comment. So my question about wall is answered. I visited a 'traveling VMW' years ago.

(cont.) One of your " topics" is " tears" . I hope they were from your eyes and not in the seat of your pants. I'd like a poem from you which speaks to the " tears" . I'm sure you COULD write one. and...who are those old codgers in the photo? which is which? you needn't answer. (cont.)

well, hopefully you can spend at least one more birthday with such friends, silent and otherwise; you can write another poem then and just change the title to " At 74" . when you mention the Wall, I think of Vietnam Memorial Wall, your living room wall, and Humpty Dumpty's wall. which was it? were you really sitting on H. D.'s wall? (cont.)

I think that you celebrated your birthday very well-with friends at a place which matters most to you. A time to shed tears of joy and sorrow.

What a great invitation to your Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday, sir Darwin. A fascinating poem.....10+++

Congratulations on making it to 73! I hope you had a good birthday!

Hank, that was my first time at the Wall. I have visited the one in Washington, D.C. before, but never this one that is so close to us! A sobering place. So many more names there than people would expect, I think! Readers: The " silent friends" Hank mentioned were the names of the Vietnam War casualties that are printed on the wall. Ted and I were not silent.