Happy Birthday My Dear Mother

Today you would have been ninety-seven, three more years a Centenarian;

But I lost you when you turned eighty-three, my Mother to never see again!

Yet I know you’re having fun today, for Father’s planning a fabulous fete;

At a swank club up there in Heaven, with reservations now all set!

He’s taking you to the Celestial, your favorite dancing place;

But first you’ll have a gourmet meal, with linens and the finest lace!

He’s hired your favorite, Benny Goodman, and his band of great renown;

To start out with soft lover’s music, but then to really get it down!

They’ll begin with a wild Jitterbug, Dad will twirl you on the floor;

Then they’ll play your favorite Mambo, the dance you both adored!

For no one did it better than, “The Mambo King and his Dancing Queen”;

People stopped and stared, and said aloud, “The best they’d ever seen”!

He’ll have you home by two a.m., in each other’s arms you’ll lay;

You’ll whisper sweet “I love you’s”, then close your eyes till the next day!

I’ll be down here thinking all about you, and the joys we always shared;

And I hope that sometime in the future, on your birthday I’ll be there!