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Life Begins at Forty
A Poem By Haskell
J. Peaker,
written especially
for my wife,
Diana Jane Peaker,
for her fortieth birthday
Life
begins at forty,
and
you've finally reached that day.
Everything
before this was pre-natal,
just
steps along the way.
Forget
about the things that have happened.
Your
first date, and your first kiss.
Everything
else was just practice,
you've
spent your whole life preparing for this.
Today
you can paint your wagon.
Finally,
you have reached your goal.
And
even if your feet are draggin'
Tell
yourself "It just ain't so".
Cause
today you are forty.
That
magical age when life begins.
From
now on it's all roses,
no
more diapers and safety pins.
Today
you turned forty,
and
though your hair is turning gray,
and
your face shows some wrinkles,
to
me you look prettier every day.
Cause,
although you've turned forty,
Sweetheart
I'll tell you true
Although
your life begins at forty,
mine
began when I met you.