<shapiro's "moving in"> 2002-11-27.7:16 p.m. Moving In Karl Shapiro I wish you for your birthday as you are, Inherently happy, The little girl always shining out of your face, And the woman standing her ground. Wish you the seldom oceanic earthquake Which shatters your gaze Against some previous interior past And rights you. Wish you your honesty normal as a tree Confounding the caws of intellectuals. When I zip your dress I kiss you on the neck, A talisman in honor of your pride. When I hold your head in my hands It is as of the roundness of Columbus Thinking the world, "my hands capable of designing the earthly sphere." Your fingers on the piano keys Or the typewriter keys or on my face Write identical transcriptions. Nothing you do is lost in translation. I am delighted that you loathe Christmas. I feel the same way about Communism. Let us live in the best possible house, Selfish and true. May the Verdi Requiem continue to knock you out As it does me; fashionable protest art Continue to infuriate your heart And make you spill your drink. Now ideology has had its day Nothing is more important than your birthday. Let us have a solid roof over our head And bless one another. back /& forth /& frosting names are often sad