Because you stand still long enough to gather the finest moss.
Because you stand.
Because you roll.
Because you rolled 197 topping all competitors at Neptune Lanes.
Because you're Stan the Man.
Because we had lunch at Lupa on Thompson just off Houston.
Because we had lunch at Lupa on Thompson just off Houston.
Because you know Irwin Shaw and forgot to tell him.
Because you are a bronze satyr.
Because of Wystan.
Because of César Vallejo
Because one Stanley deserves another
Because if you're Stanley I'm a living stone
Because of Kunitz and Moss
Because the angel was wrong but angelic
Because it's better to be angelic than right
Because when you were 82 it was fifteen years ago. Just think of it.
Because of European painting.
Because of Rome and Barcelona.
Because there are ninety-seven bottles of beer on the wall.
Because I'm just getting started.
Because God breaketh not all men's hearts alike.
Because I believe in God.
Because 81% of Americans believe in god.
Because of what happens if you put "only" before "81%": in that sentence.
Because I capitalize the God I believe in.
Because of the history of color.
Because of the intelligence of clouds.
Because you speaketh the truth.
Because of your stance, Stan.
Because of Yale and the Navy.
Because very few poets were born during the summer solstice.
Because your ideal age is 32.
Because I could devote 65 more lines to celebrate your birthday.
Thank you, David Lehman, for this glorious litany poem in honor of Stanley Moss. And what a handsome photo! Yes, you could easily add another 97 reasons to love and celebrate Stanley on his 97th birthday. I would like to add that Stanley is also an animal rescuer, having saved many dogs, horses, and donkeys. Happy birthday, Stanley David Moss.
Posted by: Emily Fragos | June 21, 2022 at 10:20 AM
Thank you, David Lehman, for honoring Stanley Moss with your lovely poem on his 97th birthday! I will always be grateful to Stanley for publishing my very first book and supporting me as a young poet. Happy birthday, Stanley!
Posted by: Cleopatra Mathis | June 25, 2022 at 11:54 AM
Beautiful!
Posted by: Summer Brenner | June 25, 2022 at 12:02 PM
What would God (or god) Think?
I capitalize the God I believe in.
- David Lehman, “97 Reasons to Celebrate
Stanley Moss on June 21”
How old was I when I discovered
I could leave god un-capitalized
and not end up in hell, or not go
anywhere at all—just go on with
my sacred life? Maybe twelve, but
my biological age isn’t the point—
the point is that neither God nor
god gives a shit about capitalization,
punctuation, grammar, or anything
we put into words (or ever have—
spoken or printed) because He, She,
or It… wait for it … doesn’t exist.
I’d say that’s a damned good thing—
but DL is right: we should capitalize
Stanley Moss because he’s a poet
and a bronze satyr— and that’s Great.
Posted by: Ken Lauter | August 29, 2022 at 04:00 PM