I celebrated my 80th birthday by writing 80 odes in reply to the 6 masterly ones by Keats and in response, quite often, to his other poetry as well, mainly sonnets.

“46. Ode to My Neighborhood” is a kind of jubilant “happy birthday” response to the pleasures of a peaceful, friendly life; it’s in in the Mr. Rogers style.

“Reply 37: ‘Ode on Autumn,’ by John Keats,” shows you the paradigm I adopt for my neo-Keatsian tribute book.

“37. Ode on Art-writing” introduces an extended venture into “ecphrastic” writing, where I interpret the many works of visual art produced during her younger years by my daughter Sarah.

“36. Ode on Dance Posters” offers a vivid reminiscence that brought to mind many remembered moments of exercise-excitement available to children awhirl.

“Reply 36: ‘The Lover’s Dervish Whirl’” is an original rhapsody aroused by the dance-writing.