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For Sam, On His Birthday

Happy birthday to you, Sam,

man of the Land of Steady Habits,

surveyor of spreadsheets,

benign overlord

of weekend pickup soccer.

Charlie the dog being the most excellent judge of character

to love this goofy human

on all fours,

faux-wrestling him nightly for his ball.

Dog-play aside, dear,

your routine as resident voice of reason

is the hard line drawn softly,

triangulated on the couch, head pillow-propped, knees easeling the Times crossword puzzle,

hours of research behind the discount readers resting on your nose.

Like Connecticut clockwork

you rise from your bed, make your lunch,

put those you love first. A joyful sacrifice-

just look at that smile!-

but a sacrifice, nonetheless;

every day, your custom being

to save the day.