Poetry slam dunk
Today, my friends, is the 8th day of September, the year of our Lord two thousand and eleven: My birthday. As you know, I really enjoy celebrating this particular occasion, and am quite enamored with receiving birthday wishes on Facebook, Twitter, text, sky writing, what have you.
But I thought about it for a bit, and what I would really like to do today is give back to the wonderful community that is the readers of Yestertime. All 14 of you not counting blood relatives. And so I have decided that for my birthday, I will write a personal haiku to every person who comments on this post. (Even if I don’t know you in real life.) Yes! Think of it! It will be glorious!
Or the worst idea ever. We’ll see. By 4 p.m. I may hate all of you and myself most for thinking of this stupid idea.
So look! It’s like a gift for you! On my birthday! I am such a giver. Except that really, I just get a total high off of having to come up with crazy shit on the fly, so it’s actually a gift for myself. Total win-win!
P.S. Bear with me as you’re commenting. (As clearly there will be a DELUGE.) I do have to do things like drive to work and … actually work, so there may be a bit of a pause between your comment and my poem. But OH IT WILL COME. And your life will be infinitely better once you read it. Of this I am supremely confident.
64 comments
Happy Birthday Rachel! I have been trying to figure out a way to break this news to you. I guess on your birthday is as good a time as any! Well, I am a stalker. Yep, it’s out. I saw a post on your facebook once that led me to your blog and and ever since then, I frequently check back in because it is so darn cute and funny! It is definitely one of my favorites! I hope you have a great day, and this is quite a relief to get this off my chest.
this is going to be epic…
I’m so glad you were born rayray <3
You asked for it! Happy birthday to you!
Mary Mckinney!
You’ve totally made my day,
sweet friend from high school!
Allen:
There’s not much I’d write
That’s more clever than “Like the
Wrench and the Cracker.”
But that’s a lame stab
At a Haiku, so I’ll say
It’s movie time, friend.
Hey Rachel,
I hope you have a great birthday!
Erica Pace Whitener (Friend from Sarah’s at MHC)
Amanda:
A girl who was Smith
Then became Vaughn. Soon, two girls
Will just call her “Mom.”
*stands up and starts slow-clapping*
I think you wrote a haiku for me in my birthday book from last year, so i’ve seen your skills. Wouldn’t miss another opportunity. Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!
Haiku is a little weird. In one of our college freshman courses we read from Basho, the 17th century master of Haiku. What’s weird is that, in translating his poems into English, NO ATTEMPT is made to keep the 17-syllable/three line form! The translator explains that Japanese is a much more compact language, and that it takes more lines/words/syllables to keep the essence of the poem when it is expressed in English. Perhaps some talented writer who has time on her hands between job/parenting/life should invent an ENGLISH poetic form that is “equivalent” to Haiku?
OOOOOOO…..yay! I am now sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for my very own Haiku.
And Happy Birthday again – I think I may just use all forms of social media to tell you that today.
Happy Birthday! I’m a dedicated reader who found your blog via my old roomie Susan who is friends with you… Hope you have a great day!
Erica:
Still a newlywed,
Friend of my sister. So glad
You’ve stopped by today!
Candace:
Once we were neighbors,
Acquaintances through a chum.
Now I call you friend.
Happy Birthday, Rach
Hope your day is divine!
Darth:
Given one choice for
“Phone a Friend” on “Millionaire”
I’d surely pick you.
Dorothy:
Friend from schools and blogs
And life. But most glad to call
You a Good Neighbor.
Emily:
Internet pals rule.
Plus you sent me your birth tale,
Which means you’re awesome.
Happy birthday Rachel! I’m still following all the way from St. Louis!
I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
I was just going to leave a simple comment offering warm birthday wishes, but then I saw that your friend Allen is over there starting the slow clap and I’m having trouble moving past that. The slow clap makes me cringe!
ok…moving on
Happy Birthday, Rachel! I sure am glad that my good friend Sarah has such a fun fam! Speaking of Sarah – tell her that she should update HER blog in honor of your birthday!
Seeing how it is getting close to 4 pm, you might be over Haikus by now, but I will comment anyway! Hope you are still having a fabulous day!
I just read this so
I understand if you’re too
busy having a
Fun birthday to write
something, but happy birthday
to you anyway!
You are truly an
ambitious and fabulous
work of motherhood.
Happy Birthday! Thanks for sharing bits of your life with the rest of us.
Leeann:
From zero to three
In not a whole lot more years
Major props, woman.
Carrie:
Paging Dr. N!
I can only imagine
How those kids love you.
Tarrant:
I’m grateful for peeps
Like you who love to cook so
Because I sure don’t.
Kathryn:
Aunt, friend to Sarah,
And big lover of state fairs,
Why the slow clap cringe?
Hang on everyone! I’ve got to drive home! Be back later. I’ll leave no haiku hanging!
You are too funny. And my life is, as promised, infinitely better.
Well, I’m not gonna miss out on this. Happy Birthday, Rachel. I was there at the birth–definitely one of the high points of my life.
Happy birthday, Rachel! Pay no attention to my unashamed adoration of you, dating back to circa 2000, my freshman year in WF at PC. Or, you know, bask in it… because you are awesome. Truly.
well, I don’t want to miss out either. and I was DEFINITELY there at the birth!!! Happy Birthday to my super talented daughter!
Love it! Thanks!
happy candle day
glowing bright with best wishes
flickering with song
Happy birthday! Hope you had a great day!
Trying to say Happy Birthday in every medium possible.
Ooo…me, me! I just saw this, 4 1/2 hours before the deadline. Hope it’s been a fabulous day full of celebrations.
Morgan:
Pastor friend with the
Two beautiful kids. So glad
To have crossed your path!
Oh, this made me so excited! If you’re haiku-ed out by now, though, I’d totally understand!
Fun fact that may make any haikus about me slightly easier to compose: I just moved to your fair city this summer.
You are awesome Rachel! Thank you for my Haiku!! Tell Sarah I said hello!
Beth:
Double birthday gift
A haiku for a haiku!
You’ve out haiku’d me.
Katy:
Contra dancer with
Two gorgeous red-headed tykes
Our kids would be friends.
Gramps:
Dear old dad, I have
But one question to ask: YOU
GON’ EAT YO’ CORNBREAD?
Good one! Thanks–I needed a good laugh.
Betsy:
Oh fellow Blue Hose
I just read your email and
Now I’m smiling big.
(Congratulations!)
bebe:
I’d like everyone
To know: my birthday was made
Possible by you!
ginnymom:
Almost once a day
Noah stops and says, “Wonder
What Ginnymom’s doin’?”
Happy Birthday Rachel! It’s not every day that you get something in return for wishing someone a happy birthday! I hope its been wonderful. Say hi to all of the fam for us–don’t forget that we are only a short drive from Abington!
Happy birthday, Rachel! I hope you had a lovely day.
(Now where’s my darn haiku?)
Amy:
Internet buddy,
Hats off to you. Three kids and
Good food. Supermom!
Rachel:
Sister-in-law, wife
Mrs. Parrish: I enjoy
Our afternoon chats.
Kate:
Sweet Kate full of Grace
Bet I know which Greek letter
Is your favorite.
Ashlyn:
Welcome to A-town!
Glad to have you. Maybe we’ll
Meet for burritos?
And another especially for you:
(Em’ry born and we’re
Em’ry bred. And when we die
We’ll be Em’ry dead!)
Rebecca:
Man how we miss our
Whaley friends. How lucky is
Knoxville to have them!
Jillian:
Yours may be the last
But I’m happy to do it
Now I’m haiku’d out.
No, one more to say
I like the name Jude! And you’re
Kind for stopping by.
Love it. Thank you!
AM I TOO LATE???? OH, SAY IT ISN’T SO!!!!! HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!!!
Best. birthdaypost. ever.
Leigh Ann:
For your short haiku
I promise not to mention
The Grudge. Oh. Whoopsies.
Happy Belated Birthday! I see that it was fantastic! I hope it continues all weekend!
well played
Two for me? Ahh shucks! Thanks so much. I hope your day was fantastic.
Very impressive.
Happy belated birthday!
I almost forgot.
Leave a Comment