"The Birthday of Plato Celebrated in the Villa di Careggi by Lorenzo the Magnificent" by Luigi MussiniA 100th Birthday Celebration Poem, by James A. Tweedie The Society May 16, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 16 Comments . Unimaginable written in celebration of the 100th birthday on May 16th of the Poet’s mother, Marjorie Tweedie, a resident of Walnut Creek, California I have a good imagination. In my mind’s eye, a spotted, black and white carnation’s As tangible as flaming neon-pink Dalmatians; Each one as clear and real to me As anything that I can see With my own eyes. It comes as no surprise That I can picture things that I have never seen, And in my mind see places I have never been; And even things that never were, I see them all as sure as sure— As clear as day. And if you took away The Eiffel Tower, Mount Everest, the State of Maine, The Matterhorn, the Zuider Zee, and all of Spain . . . And then removed each grain of rice, The kangaroos, and polar ice; A world laid waste . . . And if you then erased The works of Homer, Shakespeare, Milton, Pope, and Poe; The art of Titian, Rembrandt, Turner, and Van Gogh; Mont San Michel, the Taj Mahal; A world emptied of them all I could imagine. But A world without you would be Unimaginable to me. . . James A. Tweedie is a retired pastor living in Long Beach, Washington. He has written and published six novels, one collection of short stories, and three collections of poetry including Mostly Sonnets, all with Dunecrest Press. His poems have been published nationally and internationally in The Lyric, Poetry Salzburg (Austria) Review, California Quarterly, Asses of Parnassus, Lighten Up Online, Better than Starbucks, WestWard Quarterly, Society of Classical Poets, and The Chained Muse. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. 16 Responses SGKeeney May 16, 2021 To be 100 and on Ascension Sunday. Amen Reply jd May 16, 2021 Wow! Congratulations! Reply Peter Hartley May 16, 2021 James, Your mother must be unimaginably delighted with this paean, and you certainly do have a good imagination. These words might have come straight from Lear or Carroll, your images from Miro or Dali. (And I prefer Van Gogh to rhyme with Poe. In the U.K. I try to remember to rhyme it with clock, of course, but I think according to the Dutch we are both wrong!). I imagine your mother is looking forward to her bicentenary (or bicentennial in USA) for the next panegyric. Don’t forget. Reply Julian D. Woodruff May 16, 2021 Mr. Tweedie, This is like Sacher- or Schwarzwaldtorte with 100 self-removing candles. Reply jd May 16, 2021 Truly a poem for your Mother and for you to be proud of. Reply Sally Cook May 16, 2021 Dear James – Your poem is beautiful, both in format and intent. So often I think of my mother and things she said to me which didn’t seem to have more than a casual meaning, but now, in light of my increased maturity, were subjects I would now give the world to discuss with her. You can still do that! Pkease, will you give her an extra kiss on the cheek from me? Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant May 16, 2021 James, I love the intriguing layout and the smiling playfulness of the words… right up until the heart-touching closing couplet which captures the depth of your love for your obviously adored mom. This poem is a beautiful gift on a glorious day. My congratulations and warm wishes to Marjorie Tweedie, and her talented son, of course. Reply David Paul Behrens May 16, 2021 A beautiful tribute to your mother. Congratulations to you both! Reply James A. Tweedie May 16, 2021 Thank you all. We had a small celebration with my mother and she enjoyed the attention! At 100 she is more alert and cogent than I am although slightly less energetic. Still semi-independent and not yet in assisted living. I wrote a second poem for that was sung to Schiller/Beethoven’s Ode to Joy that began with the words, “Whoever thought you’d live so long . . .” She said, “I hope I don’t have to do this again in another hundred years!” We all assured her it would be unlikely! My mom retains her wonderful sense of humor. Happy Birthday, Mom! Reply Gail May 16, 2021 I used my imagination all through it. Your imagination will come in handy later whenever you wonder what your mother would’ve thought. Mine has been dead for longer than my children have been alive, yet they have learned to wonder . . . ‘I wish I knew what Grandma Sandy would’ve thought!’ Very enjoyable–I wish I could hear the song! Reply Margaret Coats May 16, 2021 Congratulations, Marjorie Tweedie! James, the concept of this poem is quite a feat of imagination. The hyperbolic wasting of the world seems a scary thing, but it well expresses the indispensability of a beloved mother. Reply Yael May 16, 2021 What a lovely and delightful birthday poem! Happy birthday to your mom and congratulations. Have you asked her to what she attributes her longevity? Reply BRIAN YAPKO May 16, 2021 James, this poem is an absolute delight! So much fun and topped off with so much love! Well done Congratulations! And a hearty congratulations to your mother! Reply David Watt May 20, 2021 James, your mother must be rightly proud of your lighthearted, yet touching birthday poem. I’m sure your mother’s sense of humor is a major factor in her reaching this milestone. Reply Aatif May 29, 2021 Amazing poem with best wishes! This birthday I wish you and your family abundance, happiness, and health. May lady luck come especially for the birthday boy/girl Reply wishermsg August 23, 2021 waow amazing Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Peter Hartley May 16, 2021 James, Your mother must be unimaginably delighted with this paean, and you certainly do have a good imagination. These words might have come straight from Lear or Carroll, your images from Miro or Dali. (And I prefer Van Gogh to rhyme with Poe. In the U.K. I try to remember to rhyme it with clock, of course, but I think according to the Dutch we are both wrong!). I imagine your mother is looking forward to her bicentenary (or bicentennial in USA) for the next panegyric. Don’t forget. Reply
Julian D. Woodruff May 16, 2021 Mr. Tweedie, This is like Sacher- or Schwarzwaldtorte with 100 self-removing candles. Reply
Sally Cook May 16, 2021 Dear James – Your poem is beautiful, both in format and intent. So often I think of my mother and things she said to me which didn’t seem to have more than a casual meaning, but now, in light of my increased maturity, were subjects I would now give the world to discuss with her. You can still do that! Pkease, will you give her an extra kiss on the cheek from me? Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant May 16, 2021 James, I love the intriguing layout and the smiling playfulness of the words… right up until the heart-touching closing couplet which captures the depth of your love for your obviously adored mom. This poem is a beautiful gift on a glorious day. My congratulations and warm wishes to Marjorie Tweedie, and her talented son, of course. Reply
David Paul Behrens May 16, 2021 A beautiful tribute to your mother. Congratulations to you both! Reply
James A. Tweedie May 16, 2021 Thank you all. We had a small celebration with my mother and she enjoyed the attention! At 100 she is more alert and cogent than I am although slightly less energetic. Still semi-independent and not yet in assisted living. I wrote a second poem for that was sung to Schiller/Beethoven’s Ode to Joy that began with the words, “Whoever thought you’d live so long . . .” She said, “I hope I don’t have to do this again in another hundred years!” We all assured her it would be unlikely! My mom retains her wonderful sense of humor. Happy Birthday, Mom! Reply
Gail May 16, 2021 I used my imagination all through it. Your imagination will come in handy later whenever you wonder what your mother would’ve thought. Mine has been dead for longer than my children have been alive, yet they have learned to wonder . . . ‘I wish I knew what Grandma Sandy would’ve thought!’ Very enjoyable–I wish I could hear the song! Reply
Margaret Coats May 16, 2021 Congratulations, Marjorie Tweedie! James, the concept of this poem is quite a feat of imagination. The hyperbolic wasting of the world seems a scary thing, but it well expresses the indispensability of a beloved mother. Reply
Yael May 16, 2021 What a lovely and delightful birthday poem! Happy birthday to your mom and congratulations. Have you asked her to what she attributes her longevity? Reply
BRIAN YAPKO May 16, 2021 James, this poem is an absolute delight! So much fun and topped off with so much love! Well done Congratulations! And a hearty congratulations to your mother! Reply
David Watt May 20, 2021 James, your mother must be rightly proud of your lighthearted, yet touching birthday poem. I’m sure your mother’s sense of humor is a major factor in her reaching this milestone. Reply
Aatif May 29, 2021 Amazing poem with best wishes! This birthday I wish you and your family abundance, happiness, and health. May lady luck come especially for the birthday boy/girl Reply