AT SEVENTY-SIX

By Rudy Arizala

Former Ambassador Rudy Arizala celebrated his 76th birthday on September 25, 2005. We extend to our dear and great kababayan many happy returns of the day and we thnk him for his many words of wisdom including the words expressed in the poem below.

Another birthday comes
Reminds me many years
I have spent with grace
With family and friends.
Now my muscles, bones pain
Have to wear eyeglasses
To read the newspapers
And wear false dentures
To enjoy daily meals.
What is there in old age?
Which give the youth courage
To go on and work hard
When youth but past image
And old age a vision?
Now, I am seventy-six
Yet hoping to witness
More and more many years
Watch sunset and sunrise
The monsoon wind and rains
Which heaven only knows
When will they come again.