Ol' Mate

They reckon Tezza’s close to fifty years,

that's half a century, when I'm countin’ right!

And that seems to be rather nifty. Cheers!

-   to you, while you're around (but outa sight1).

So “Sire”, with your lady, Kath the “Dam”

you've weathered much (not saying whether ewe

are one of those ol’ wethers or a ram,

but seeing all ya offspring.. there's a clue!

And in the line of Sarah's Abraham,

you've set yourself to follow as his “son”,

a friend of the Creator, the I AM,

most unreligious traveler that begun

to walk around this world - along with God,

instead of running, hiding behind leaves

when there's an indication that he's trod

quite close to here, or that his spirit breathes

a wind that blows an unrest - walks about,

and Tezza walks, and works in this dry land,

instead of grumblin’, flirtin’, like a lout;

content to thank the one who helps2 him stand.

As Sarah's laugh caught on to Abe as well,

they stayed & came together in old age,

their wealth was in their promise, time would tell -

their fam'ly not their house, their heritage!

So Tezza, now at half that age - “Done well!”

You've left a bunch of boys and girls about

who'd like to, like you, try to boycott hell.

With help from your own helper, they've got clout!

---

1. I'm in a pub in Orange, NSW, and can't see Tezza anywhere this arvo, though I'm thinkin’ of him while I write this
2. The ambiguity here came from the scriptures that speak of both Eve as the helper to help Adam in their mandated job of multiplying & ruling (as vice regent under God, the most creative loving ruler), and also speak of God as the king/psalmist's  helper to live & rule and create.