William J. Rice was born in 1900. Through his poetry his life perspective evolves as he ages, his age paralleling the progression of the century. This collection of poems throughout his life was compiled and published when he was 81:

YOU YOUNG ONES

"You did not find the grains
 That have sustained mankind

Nor ships that with the wind
 Did sail the main

...

Man with his yardstick
 Measures the stars

And within a broomstick
 Will soon fly off
  To Mars"

 

ON REACHING SIXTY FIVE

"Oh! Earth and Air
 And Sky and Sun

From which substances I derived
 And strength
 To dig and hew
 And weave and sew

...

Is wisdom
Only a reflection
Accumulated
From the mirror of events
 By which to see truly
 And briefly to know"

TO GLADYS

"What does this day tell
-- That the Earth
Since the same day in 1973
365 times has faced the sun
 Where she in Brooklyn lives
And thirteen times
 Seen the full Moon

And once again full Solar circle made

So, this day, Gladys,
 You start another Cosmic round
 And reach for the Next Happy Birthday
 With Sun
  And Moon and Stars
  Your companions
  On the way
  To the next 24th of May."

This wonderful 62 page book of poetry can be yours to read for only $5.99.