A birthday happens not by chance,
it's not at all in our control.
Each a marker on a mission,
one by one they call, they beckon.
Every year makes its advance,
another checkpoint on patrol.
Take five to pause and to inspect
your kit to see if it's complete,
to get you through to duty's end
with what you need or must amend,
a time to rest and to reject
every thought of sad retreat.
We cannot know the outcome now,
but only that our part we play.
And when at last our task is done,
and we our final course have run,
we trust our Captain will endow
the vict'ry ribbon to repay.
-- Johnny (For Monica, 4 October 2020)
