Happy Birthday to Me

A Birthday Prayer


o georgia darmstatter of ike's auto park
seller of buicks nissans and hondas, you
hold bits of my life on split metal rings

xl7usa1 the mailbox at my summer studio
kw1usa1 the summer studio
hidiclass the fob that lets me in the building
gmrubbergrip my buick century
curtisy157 the minivan
kw1usa1 my home church
brent'slock&key594-3017 home
kroger plus shopper's card
extracare cvs pharmacy
staplesrewardspremier
goldcard gnc livewell
acekw153311 my friend mark's apartment
2aa33c123 my internship church
bbab30a the hospital spiritual care office
103emadeinusa my cpe desk drawers

duplication prohibited
patent numbers that boggle
my life is held in georgia darmstatter's
metal grip but none can duplicate it
bits personal private shared and guarded

how many other bits of serrated metal
protected my life? bits that georgia
never was witness to, never safekeeper of

how many vehicles houses apartments
how many trailers sheds toolboxes
how many lockers workplaces dormrooms
how many desks chests safes
and sardine cans...

safes
safe

o georgia darmstatter of ike's auto park
have you made me safe?
you let me in keep others out
or make them work to get in that's all
safe? that's something beyond the power
even of you
o georgia darmstatter of ike's auto park

fobs and rings decorated and plain
one with a buddhist temple charm
flit through my memory but leave quickly

stay with me awhile, stay
pretend for me i'm safe for awhile
safe keep me and pray for me
o georgia darmstatter of ike's auto park


© Copyright 2011 by Paul Kent Oakley