A painting; blue and black and red, like life
Says: “the blues is always vamping;”
Yet we continue with the tramping
Through 10,000 words of ethical strife.

“The Eternal Kingdom is taken by force”
Despite our Baby Steps, proverbs, cliches,
Though the logismoi form a haze
Which come to obscure the course

Upon which jogs a camel and a hound
On the far bank are baby birds yopping:
Toe and tail through the water the hound goes plopping
Tail up, nose upon the ground.

Through all the brazeness, trepidation, fears,
May God yet grant you many years!

(Written in reply to A Birthday Poem)