I usually celebrate my birthday with a haiku dinner. You don't bring presents, you bring a haiku and read it. A sake and shabu shabu celebration.

Here is a sampling of the haiku's written for the birthday boys: myself, Dan Greening and Randy Sugawara.

---

from hina pendle

Time moves one along
through loves and life with others
between us, no time.

love born of friendship
lives deep in my heart of hearts
beyond mortal reach

from bhasa

lovely to see you
my friend, now and forever,
wrinkles, kinks and all.

---

Haiku by Ron Lussier:

for Moses

Tantric business plan
Tongue-in-cheek entrepreneur
Whoopee zabuton

for Randy

Master Yang dances
Seasons pass in Guang Ping
A stable boy dreams

(This poem refers to Wang Jiao-Yu learning the secrets
of Thai Chi by spying on Yang Ban-Hou. This style has
come to be known as 'Guang Ping style' because it was
first practiced in the Guang Ping province of China.)

for Dan

Raised in Michigan
Prudish and adventuresome
Strange sense of humor

Nubile silver elf
Playful intellectual
Loving companion

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Haiku from Dan Greening:

for Moses

Sweaty, naked, stray,
women ride while horses play:
Sex societe.

for Randy

Are your chakras right?
Harmonize the dark with light
to find inner might.

for Dan himself!

What if thoughts too brief
joined to build a strong belief?
Communal motif.

3-5-3 Two Rhyming Stanzas

for Moses

Brains cashless.
Now ambition floats
new tech boats.

for Randy

Sweet words flow
to seduce right brains.
Smart ammo.

for Dan himself

Make a wish
then seek forever.
Face bluish.

---

Haiku by Moses

Thanks to all of you
my birthday was as happy
as a (you fill in)

good friends at dinner
another spin round the sun
savor these circles

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A few others:

Birthdays for my friends
I can't attend but send love
No taste, here's my toast
- Mark Resch

friends around table
connect to one another
richness beyond cream
- david presti

Glad we met through Ryze
Mentor, coach and Friend you are
My mind has learned LOTS!
- suebee