| Five Easy Steps to Finding the Right Birthday | | | | Of course, some instances of humor are best left |
| Poem | | | | untouched. If someone is particularly touchy about |
| So, it's a friend or family member's birthday and | | | | their age, finding a poem that outlines the exact |
| let's face it, those corny punch lines already | | | | age and then makes comment on the advanced |
| printed on birthday cards just are not going to cut | | | | decrepit state of that age is not the best idea. Be |
| it this year. A solid birthday poem can really push | | | | considerate even as you seek a light and |
| a card over the top, but only if you can find the | | | | humorous way to celebrate that most important |
| right words to express what you're hoping to say. | | | | of days. |
| No one wants their birthday poem to be too | | | | Step #4 - For that Special Someone |
| overt. Of course, no one wants to give their | | | | Birthday poems for a spouse or for a loved one |
| friend a dirty limerick for their birthday poem | | | | can be a chance to really shine and show how |
| either. | | | | much you love them. They can also be a chance |
| Step #1 - Find the Right Tone | | | | to earn a few extra points with just the right |
| Birthday poems range in all sizes and shapes, just | | | | lyrics. Christina Rosetti, a 19th century poet who |
| like people. So, it stands to reason that there | | | | spent a great deal of her life in and out of |
| should be a perfectly suited poem available for | | | | depressive states, wrote many beautiful lyrics, |
| nearly anyone you know. Step one then is to find | | | | including "A Birthday", a poem dedicated not just |
| the right tone for your birthday tone. Is it for | | | | to a single birthday, but to the sensation and joy |
| your mother, your wife, your husband, your son | | | | of a birthday as a metaphor for being in love: |
| or daughter, or maybe just a good friend or | | | | Raise me a daïs of silk and down; Hang it |
| co-worker. Now, what kind of a poem would that | | | | with vair and purple dyes; Carve it in doves and |
| person appreciate? | | | | pomegranates, And peacocks with a hundred |
| Step #2 - Humor Goes a Long Way | | | | eyes; Work it in gold and silver grapes, In leaves |
| Even for a spouse or family member, a funny | | | | and silver fleurs-de-lys; Because the birthday of |
| birthday poem can be a light and distracting way | | | | my life Is come, my love is come to me. |
| to enjoy the annual reminder of how old they are. | | | | Step #5 - Delivering the Birthday Poem |
| Jonathan Swift, the author Gulliver's Travels and | | | | After choosing the right words, reading them |
| one of the English language's first satirists wrote | | | | over and over again and knowing that they fit the |
| "Stella's Birthday" for a woman with whom he | | | | birthday boy or girl perfectly, it is time to decide |
| frequently corresponded. With the light touch of | | | | how that birthday poem should be given to them. |
| humor that he imbued into everything he wrote, | | | | Humorous poems are best delivered in a card. |
| he reminded her of exactly how old she was: | | | | They can be read over and over, shared with |
| Stella this day is thirty-four, (We shan't dispute a | | | | friends and hung upon the refrigerator for future |
| year or more:) However, Stella, be not troubled, | | | | laughs. Loving and personal poems are often |
| Although thy size and years are doubled, Since | | | | better delivered in person, adding that intimate |
| first I saw thee at sixteen, The brightest virgin on | | | | touch that can push a birthday poem over the |
| the green; So little is thy form declin'd; Made up | | | | top. However you decide to deliver it though, |
| so largely in thy mind. | | | | poetry on a loved one's birthday is a wonderful |
| Step #3 - Being Wary | | | | gift. |