Ninth Birthday Poem

                          for grandniece Lilly



Germany Baden 4 Numeral 9
(issued 5-1-1851)



All numbers are considered divine,
especially the mystic number nine.

Israel 128
9th Anniversary
(4-29-1957)

First nine numbers
9 is the highest single digit number—
On its side, 9 resembles us in slumber.

Nine on side

9 baseball players in game of 9 innings,
9 planets in our solar system spinning.

9 innings in baseball game

9 planets in solar system


Cat with 9 lives
A cat is said to have 9 lives—
How many were going to St. Ives?

7 Wives to St. Ives

Tic-Tac-Toe
9 boxes in game of Tic-Tac-Toe,
9 months for baby in womb to grow.

Baby in womb

Nones Prayer

Dürer (1508)
Praying Hands

Nones is 9th hour of canonical prayers,
Magic Square of Saturn has 9 squares.

Magic Square of Saturn
(All sides add to 15)


Blackeyed Susan


Found six flowers with nine petals,
Carl Lewis won nine gold medals.

Carl Lewis

Apple cider

Nine months for apple cider to age,
9th Tarot card shows a Hermit Sage.

9th Tarot card


Ludwig van Beethoven:
9th Symphony (1824)

Beethoven's 9th Symphony
    sets the soul aglow
like the 9 Sistine Panels
    of Michelangelo.

Michelangelo:
Sistine Chapel, 1512

Nonagon
9 equal sides
Nonagon has
  9 equal sides,
May 9 Muses
  be your guides.

Nine Muses
dancing with Apollo

Dante's 9th Sphere
in the Paradiso
is Primum Mobile
Dante's Paradiso has 9 Spheres,
9 Beatitudes of Christ to revere.

Italy 146, 1 lira
(issued 6-11-1923)
Christ preaching sermon

Fluorine Atom
Fluorine's 9 electrons wish you cheers—
Happy 9th Birthday to you Lilly dear!

9th Birthday Cake
Peter Y. Chou
Mountain View, 3-5-2022