Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Famous, Infamous, or Un-birthdays

“I mean, what is an un-birthday present?"

"A present given when it isn't your birthday, of course."
Alice considered a little. "I like birthday presents best," she said at last.

"You don't know what you're talking about!" cried Humpty Dumpty. 
"How many days are there in a year?"

"Three hundred and sixty-five," said Alice.

"And how many birthdays have you?  One.” 

― Lewis Carroll

Midweek Motif ~ Birthdays

(Famous, Infamous, or Un-)

When I decided on this motif, I was thinking of Dr. MLK Jr's Birthday tomorrow, the 15th of January (though in the USA it is celebrated next Monday to make a long weekend).  When I lived in Virginia, I was astonished to see this birthday shared with that of Confederate General Robert E. Lee whose birthday is the 19th of January.  The 19th is also my grandmother's birthday who lived from 1901-2003.  And it's one of my un-birthdays.  And so what?  What is so special about birthdays?

Your Challenge:  

Create a Special Birthday Poem.

Marilyn Monroe: Happy Birthday Mr President

One And Twenty

     by Samuel Johnson  (1709 - 1784 / Lichfield / England)

LONG-EXPECTED one and twenty 

Ling'ring year at last has flown, 
Pomp and pleasure, pride and plenty 
Great Sir John, are all your own. 

Loosen'd from the minor's tether, 
Free to mortgage or to sell, 
Wild as wind, and light as feather 
Bid the slaves of thrift farewell. 

Call the Bettys, Kates, and Jenneys 
Ev'ry name that laughs at care, 
Lavish of your Grandsire's guineas, 
Show the spirit of an heir. 

. . . .   (Read the rest HERE at Poemhunter.com.)

A Birthday

by Christina Georgina Rossetti

5 Dec 1830 – 29 Dec 1894 / London)

My heart is like a singing bird

Whose nest is in a water'd shoot;

My heart is like an apple-tree

Whose boughs are bent with thickset fruit;

My heart is like a rainbow shell

That paddles in a halcyon sea;

My heart is gladder than all these

Because my love is come to me.

Raise me a dais of silk and down;

Hang it with vair and purple dyes;

Carve it in doves and pomegranates,

And peacocks with a hundred eyes;

Work it in gold and silver grapes,

In leaves and silver fleurs-de-lys;

Because the birthday of my life

Is come, my love is come to me. 

***

For those who are new to Poets United:  

1. Post your new music poem on your site, and then link it here.
2. If you use a picture include its link.  
3. Share only original and new work written for this challenge. 
4. Leave a comment here.
5. Visit and comment on our poems.

(Our next Midweek Motif is Fashion, as in Christian Dior.)

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