A Birthday Celebration: Age 72

             Age 72
It has been a good year; the best ever

for the heart that is young and for future prospects;

though I grumble, sometimes, when the chimes are at one

and ruminate at twelve.

High on the wall the antlers

and above the door the boomerang;

and discrete in the corner by the front door

the silver sphere, still measuring:
though the rhythm and work of men had ceased.

And though my time is on the wane

and I have many things to do,

I will cherish the chimes,
and grumble! and ruminate!

until and whenever, the pendulum - stops.

_______________

© Cormac E McCloskey

The line "though the rhythm of work and men had ceased" is an echo of another of my poems, that gives context to the reminiscing. I had it in the earlier drafts but removed it at the last moment. But reading the poem now that I am 72 and a bit, I have reinstated it  And I have made a small change to the line that is fourth from bottom. ""and I have many things still to do." Still was superfluous and distorted the rhythm of the ending.

Cormac 15th February 2014

The punctuation and some of the wording has been altered: after "measuring" the word "time" has been removed so that the idea of time is implied rather than stated. And the line "when the rhythm and work of men had ceased" is no longer a quote, but instead, an echo of that same line now that it begins with "though"
Cormac 18 March 2014 .