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Thursday, February 25, 2021

Poetry Friday - Birthday Special

   Karen Edmisten hosts our Poetry Friday today HERE at her blog, also sharing about birthdays!  Thank you, Karen! 

         

 At this time of year, those born under the sign of Pisces are reigning, celebrating birthdays, so many that it's hard to keep up! I won't list them, but I imagine as you read through the Poetry Friday posts today, you will find quite a few writing about or reflecting upon their special days.

                 Just adding a note! It is NOT my birthday. I'm only celebrating for so many who do have them during this month and into March - those Pisces!



           I've discovered many birthday poems in my Google search, chose one from Lucille Clifton for this celebration. With brief words, a little humor, and some serious thought, the poem is my wish for all the birthday people. I suspect this year those celebrating and all the rest of us are indeed "aching" to know what our future will bring. Happy Birthday to Each One of You!

This is my piece of 'tuxedo cake', wish I could share some with all of you!
I didn't make it, but have discovered it at my grocery! And I managed to
find one birthday candle!

birth-Day by Lucille Clifton

today we are possible.

the morning, green and laundry-sweet,

opens itself and we enter

blind and mewling.

everything waits for us:

the snow kingdom

sparkling and silent

in its glacial cap,

the rest is HERE.


29 comments:

  1. What a beautiful poem. I have not read that before. But, it is now also tucked into my files of "finds" for someone in my future. And, tuxedo cake? Don't mind if I do. Thank you. It's not my birthday for months. But, I enjoy a celebration of someone else's birthday (maybe even a bit more than my own?). Thanks for the lovely post. I'm so glad I read it before I left the house this morning for school.

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  2. "what we will become

    waits in us like an ache."

    Happy Birthday to everyone! In my family, we are celebrating my husband and my oldest daughter. I didn't realize it was such a heavy bday month for PoFri folks, too. That cake looks so yummy.

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  3. Oh, that ending. I don't usually click to read more, but I had to. Love how much she says here. Happiest of birthdays to you, Linda!

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  4. Thanks, Linda, Margaret & Laura! I'm so glad you like the poem & the cake! Wish I could give you all a piece! And, just to get it straight, it is NOT my birthday. I'll be waiting all the way until October!

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  5. Thanks for sharing this poem (new to me), and of course I'm drooling at that tuxedo cake (great name). Wonderful about all the Pisces birthdays.

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    1. This cake may add to my weight a bit. I tried it about a week or two ago & it is sumptuous - lots of chocolate! I wish I could share it all across the world. Thanks, Jama!

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  6. Thank you for the sweet birthday wishes, Linda! That is a delicious-looking cake and a great poetry find.
    My son taught me the term "panniversary" yesterday -- one year since we started dealing with the pandemic. My birthday last year was the first day my parents started social distancing, so they gave me my presents in a parking lot (COVID-19 cases were confirmed in my state on my birthday eve). I really had no idea that COVID-19 would be an issue a year later...sometimes ignorance really is bliss :-)

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    1. We've been talking & talking about that day, now tell your son I'll call it the 'panniversary' too! You definitely have a day to mark it, your own birthday! What I remember is taking a "closed until further notice" sign to the bookstore. We didn't know, did we? Wishing you a Happy Birthday with lots of smiles for the year ahead, Tabatha!

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    2. I'm glad I'm not the only one who totally missed the ongoing significance of this pandemic, Tabatha and Linda. In so many ways, it hasn't been as bad as I'd feared (Australia has had a very different experience to much of the world) - but its impact has long fingers and a tight grasp.

      That tuxedo cake looks delicious, Linda!

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    3. I know there are many of us, Kat. One of my bookstore co-workers was not pleased that a couple of us made the decision to close. We just didn't know, & I wish our country had made similar choices to yours! Thank you!

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  7. Happy Birthday to you and all the other birthday folks. It's so interesting thinking back, as in the poem, about birth, the possibilities, and knowing what we know.

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    1. Thanks, Janice, but it is not my birthday. I'm just celebrating for so many on Poetry Friday who are Pisces! Yes, the poem is a lovely thought about reflecting.

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  8. What a delicious slice of tuxedo cake you've offered up, and lovely poem by Lucile Clifton. I especially like the ending, "what we will become/waits in us like an ache." Thanks Linda!

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  9. The cake looks divine. And the poem is new to me. I love how it takes us from snow to cane fields.

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  10. Poetry + cake = the perfect birthday celebration for the Pisces peeps! You know how to throw a party, Linda! ;)

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  11. Happy Birthday, Linda. Today is my oldest son's birthday. I hope you enjoyed your cake... even though it rhymes with ache! Haha.

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  12. Thanks for the birthday wishes, Linda! What a gorgeous poem from Lucille Clifton. "Today we are possible" and "everything waits for us" -- but also her recognition of the ache in life.

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  13. Love it! Hope your second shot doesn't give you too much ache!

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  14. Thank you everyone. I'm in the midst of a bookstore, then 2nd shot flurry. So far, I'm fine. I'm so glad you enjoyed the poem!

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  15. Beautiful poem. I love that first line--today we are possible.

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  16. What a lovely poem! My daughter turned 30 this week. I'm going to share it with her!

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  17. Thanks, Kay & Susan. I like that first line, too, & wishing your daughter a happy birthday, Susan.

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  18. Oh, I *love* this one, Linda. I don't think I've read it before. I love "green and laundry-sweet" and the ache. Just lovely.

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  19. Lovely poem, Linda- I'd not read it before, so thank you! And if you have any more of that tuxedo cake left, I'll happily help you finish it. ;)

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  20. Thanks, Karen & Matt, I'm happy I shared the poem this week & that you liked it. I would be happy to share some cake, Matt. We need some 'teleporting' talents, though!

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  21. What a perfect poem, and it's new to me! I am just reading Poetry Friday now, after stretching out my birthday as long as I possibly could over the weekend!

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    1. I'm so glad you stretched it as long as you could, Ruth, & hope it was a lovely one! And, I'm glad to share a new poem to you! Thanks!

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  22. How kind of you, Linda, to throw confetti for our Pisces friends over here! That poem - goodness. How had I not read it before? Every. Line. Perfect. Thank you for sharing! XO

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    1. Thanks, Robyn! Hope March has started beautifully for you!

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