For Your Father on His Forty-Seventh Birthday...

you know i don't believe in much.

my personality will only let me appear

just so spiritual,

and i'm far from "touchy-feely,"

but i believe in me

and i believe in you.

i have faith in the life we're making

because you make me better than i am,

and for whatever reason

my "crazy" hasn't scared you off just yet.

i believe our love clears the way

for infinite possibilities

for a family, travel to far-flung places,

fits of hysterical laughter,

quiet mornings reading the paper,

and the two of us

turning into old men together.

i believe "the world just gets out of our way"

so that our dreams can come true.

just us, just you, just me.

j.