My oldest son turns 15 this Monday, May 29th. He also has some summer reading assignments and one of the authors he has the chance to read is Edgar Allan Poe. So, for Gage, I present the following:

Once upon a midnight dreary, as Gage's birthday drew near,

Young Gage, a lad of fifteen, felt the excitement rise, I fear.

His parents, Lynn and James, sought to honor their son's day,

With a tale both humorous and eerie, in Edgar Allan Poe's haunting way.

Gage, a lad so full of zest, possessed a trombone and musical soul,

In the school band, he played with fervor, his talents took their toll.

But his younger brother, Jace, a mere twelve years old,

Admired his sibling's melodies, both raucous and bold.

In their abode, a dwelling quaint, resided the family's dear pets,

A dog named Bully, loyal and true, and Tobie, a cat, no regrets.

Together they formed a curious quartet, their antics a daily surprise,

As Gage practiced his trombone, they would sing along, to everyone's surmise.

On the eve of Gage's fifteenth year, a peculiar occurrence took place,

Bully and Tobie, the mischievous pair, devised a prank, a most puzzling case.

While Gage slumbered, wrapped in dreams, the animals, in silent collusion,

Plotted a scheme to honor him, causing a whimsical confusion.

As the clock struck twelve, the bewitching hour, a melody filled the air,

Gage's trombone, untouched by hand, played notes beyond compare.

A phantom performance, hauntingly sweet, resonated through the halls,

As Bully howled in harmony, and Tobie danced upon the walls.

Awakening from his slumber, Gage rubbed his eyes in disbelief,

What manner of magic was this, causing his heart to sink with grief?

Yet a grin soon formed upon his face, as he recognized his partners in crime,

Bully, the crooning canine, and Tobie, the feline, frozen in time.

Together they reveled, Gage and his pets, in this spectral symphony,

Their love and laughter echoing, filling the house with glee.

For in this whimsical tale of birthday mirth, the spirits of joy did roam,

As Gage, the trombone virtuoso, found solace in his cozy home.

And so, on Gage's fifteenth birthday, we honor this tale so queer,

Of a boy, his trombone, and pets so dear.

May the echoes of laughter, and the spirits of Poe,

Fill your heart with warmth, wherever you may go.

Happy Birthday, dear Gage, may your days be filled with cheer,

With music, mischief, and love, throughout the coming year.