I have more birthdays on my calendar in April than any other month of the year. They bridge Aries and Taurus, they arrive “babbling and strewing flowers” (E. St. Vincent Millay), they “put a spirit of youth in everything” (Wm. Shakespeare).
This month, I start a whole new year, and so does my husband. And my pals Krista and Kelly and Bernadette and Audrey and Audrey’s husband Michael. My cousins Anne and Knuckles and my beloved friend Steve and his mom Mary and my uncle DQ and… you get the idea. April brings a daily cacophony of birthdays and fresh starts and surprises and promises.
And today, my friend Sara, who’s had a hard year and really deserves the goodness this new one has to offer. We’ve only been together in person a few times, but we’ve been friends for, gosh, nearly 20 years? And have been writing poems together the whole of that time. Wow. Happy birthday, Sara. And happy birthday to the rest of my April kin and to the baby birds and buds bursting everywhere. Happy birthday.
Haiku 24, 2026
Possibility!
Pink petals layered like cake
or unread pages…
I have been writing ekphrastic haiku every day this month in celebration of National Poetry Month, so I figured I’d just keep that up today! You can read my friends’ ekphrastics here:
Tricia
Sara
Tanita
Mary Lee
Laura
And Irene Latham is hosting Poetry Friday today! Tra la! Enjoy!
Happy birthday to all you April lovelies! (In our family we are awash in September birthdays!) I’m in love with both the photo and the poem. xo
Isn’t it interesting how certain months hold more birthdays for a family than others? Our months are September, October, and December. It’s weird, actually. But your birthday haiku of unread pages (future unknown) or layers (our lives) is exquisite! A celebration for all.
It tickles me that I have so much company in my April birthday! It can be a wild weather month, but today it’s glorious here, with sunshine and a breeze. I love your poem– and I do think everyone should have flowers, TBR pages, and as many layers of cake as they like for their special day. Happiest of birthdays to you and all your loved ones!
Liz, birthdays in my family are honored spaces on our calendars. Millay’s and Shakespeare’s thoughts brighten your prose: “babbling and strewing flowers”, “put a spirit of youth in everything”. The ekphrastic haiku rings with simplicity and truth.
I adore this poem, and the flowers are gorgeous. Sara’s right. Everyone should have flowers. I think spring is the best time for a birthday.
Cake AND unread pages? My favorite kind of birthday. This is lovely.