Eighteen

Eighteen...poem 18...of course 18...today is the 18th...natal birthday 18th...62 years ago...4-18...a set of numbers seen at least twice a day if one notices the time...four times 18 equals 72...seven plus two equals nine...so does one plus eight...numerology...perhaps the ancient Mayans could have made something of the combinations...predicted the end of the world...or some other cataclysmic event...maybe the Kabbalists would have found solace in the numbers...or created a golem instead...four times 18 equals four times chai...four times life...baruch atah adonai...blessed art thou oh Lord our God...the Jews pray...that single line equaling a prayer...short and simple...yet adequate enough to reach out to heaven...the Chinese believe the number eight brings luck...62...six plus two equals eight...a friend says 62 is a good year...after one day it has a good feel...it brings a sense of fullness...richness...satisfaction...of admiring accomplishments and feats...of heaving a sigh of relief...a chance to look back...to look forward...a Janus seeing both sides...four times 18 equals four times chai...a lot of life has passed...six plus two equals eight...lucky number...perhaps a lucky year