Poetry Sunday: Cheerios

So, yesterday was my birthday. It was one of those which contains a zero, always a time for special reflection on the past decade and all the decades that went before - and the decade to come.

There are things to regret, of course, sad memories of those loved ones lost in the past decade, but also happy memories of joyous days, seeing new places, having new experiences, learning new skills, as well as time spent in the company of dearly loved old friends and companions.

The decade ahead will offer new challenges, but maybe more joys and new experiences as well. Then perhaps one day I will even open the newspaper and happily learn as Billy Collins did that I am as old as...

Cheerios

BY BILLY COLLINS

One bright morning in a restaurant in Chicago

as I waited for my eggs and toast,

I opened the Tribune only to discover

that I was the same age as Cheerios.

Indeed, I was a few months older than Cheerios

for today, the newspaper announced,

was the seventieth birthday of Cheerios

whereas mine had occurred earlier in the year.

Already I could hear them whispering

behind my stooped and threadbare back,

Why that dude’s older than Cheerios

the way they used to say

Why that’s as old as the hills,

only the hills are much older than Cheerios

or any American breakfast cereal,

and more noble and enduring are the hills,

I surmised as a bar of sunlight illuminated my orange juice.