This bird has flown
when all else failed
if only we'd known
that ship has sailed
and the plane's left the gate
but wait it's not too late
to radio the pilot
once twice or even thrice
while on the ground
ask him nice
if he'll turn around
in a trice and name the price
to retrace his track
as it won't be the first
unplanned taxi back
for whom the fuel burns
happenstance
of many happy returns
You are getting on, old fruit
Too obese to wear your new suit
Your face resembles a wrinkled prune
Old age is showing on you too soon,
What has happened to your lustrous hair
Your scalp is shiny and noticeably bare
Your jowls are hanging lower than your chin
My word, I cannot believe what a state you're in
Shoulders that were broad and strong
They are now all hunched and look all wrong.
Your knees are knobbly and a little bent,
The left leg forgot where the right one went.
I can not understand you when you talk,
Your brain, not your legs, has gone for a walk
Your eyes look blank, staring into space
You have lost touch with the human race.
We lost touch over the years,
After sharing much laughter and some tears
I have just seen you interviewed on TV
Old fruit, it was a shock to me,
To see you sitting in a chair,
With all the hoi polloi and fanfare there
Smiling happily from ear to ear
Holding up a glass of cheer
With the TV presenters and your guests
Wishing you the very best
And the audience stood up to say
Many happy returns of your 110th BIRTHDAY!
The whole world is waiting, all ears agog,
For your birthday, to start a dialogue,
Your goodness is daily praised by their gongs,
For at no time, you blamed them for their wrongs.
Your heart gleams bright, free of any hatred,
So why won't your birthdays be this sacred.
Even the mirrors can't hide your beauty ~
That, that nature adopts as its duty.
Bottles! Allow all wines to jailbreak~
Their readiness to spread joy is at stake,
Bellies! Why tarry to relieve your hunger?
Allow your satiation be kept younger.
All directions now lead just to your home,
Your birthday frees idle legs of their roam.
Even angels wish you happy birthday.
Many happy returns our mouths pray.
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday!
Let the tables turn;
Let this day return
Again and again;
I feel insane
Without you, my dear;
Our friendship’s sheer.
O, my best friend,
Amity has no end;
Best wishes for you;
Nothing can hurt you,
For you will stay girt
With the love from my heart.
Do not feel morose;
Life, as usual, goes,
But our amity will bring
You back to health and sing
The glories of life,
Banishing age-old strife.
Stay strong, stay strong,
Sing life’s glorious song.
Life is for us, for us all.
Listen to life’s sweet call.
O, chum,
Let us hum
Life’s glory,
Not such flurry.
Aye, the hospital
Must give disposal;
I would say, I do say
To dream of a sunny day.
What can COVID-19 do?
It can never, never touch you.
We can win, this we must defeat;
Get ready for life's dear drumbeat.
There is the sun, there he is, yes, he is
To make the cloud come to the cease.
Happy birthday, happy birthday!
Many happy returns of the day.
Tim asked Aunt Sheila, ‘How’s Melbourne today?
I hope you are having a nice Christmas Day,
I opened my present before the phone rang,
So thank you for sending me that boomerang.
But I hoped you’d send me a bat and a ball
And not some bent wood, I don’t want that at all!’
‘Well, just throw the damned thing away,’ she cried.
‘Believe me, Aunt Sheila… I really have tried!’
Wishing you a very happy birthday
though many have passed long before
every year a new one is fresh
for it brings you wishing for more
Hoping for many new blessings
in this new birthday year to come
you will know this all to be true
for this my wish hoping to do
A very happy day to you
for you my lovely precious one
always feel so many loving thoughts
to the one whose love is never done
Thanks for all our happy moments
we’ve shared so many all the years
so have a great and special day
deserve it all for you’re always near
(This is written to my dear and lovely wife Christine of 31 blessed years as today is her birthday and just to wish her a very happy birthday.)
I think I missed the birthday of Eve too
I'm 'under-sensitive'... What should I do
I'd take some art lessons
But then I'd be messin'
With a poet's canvas that's pure and true
Happy Birthday, Eve Roper!
Many Happy Returns on the Day!
~ Ancient Wisdom: "Age 50 is for giving advice" ~
A man is surely trapped in the jaws of a vice
when he walks down the aisle and they throw the rice
For from that day forth all he hears is advice
All his experienced friends tell him what to do
not to mention all the in-laws he has to listen to
And, of course, the mother and father-in-law
inevitably weight in with their say
on any discussion of the issues of the day
Let's not forget the beautiful bride
Her opinion she makes sure not to hide
She's certainly not just 'along for the ride...'
Yet now that you're 50, the tables do turn
You've suffered enough to really have earned
The right to dispense all the wisdom you've earned
And with that ~ Happy Birthday and Many Happy Returns!
Five years ago today my Nan should've been 90
But instead i sat with her while she died in her nighty
The silence in the room was all that was left
But i understand the special time i spent with her,as she drew her last breath
Her soul had gone but her body still lay
I would do anything to get, just one more day
She was kind and loving and taught me well
Its times like this i suppose i shouldn't dwell
If only i had known what was to come
I'd have give her my life and had more fun
She may have been old but age is but a number
She was a gran, a sister and a beautiful mother
I have her picture hanging pride of place
For many years she will be in that favourite place
Many happy returns wherever you are
Im sure youre looking down at me from your special star
When i see a robin i think of you
The stories you told me were beautiful too
You sang me to sleep when i was so so small
And i thank you for showing how to stand tall
We had great times and shared so much
I will never forget your loving touch
I submit this limerick today.
Fellow Soupers, please heed what I say!
A favorite poet of mine,
on Saturday, June 9
will be facing, another Birthday!
Larry Belt, there's a wish, I suggest,
even though I can't speak for the rest,
the wish that I send,
is HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my friend,
as a Poet, you are the best!
Many happy returns, Larry!
Handshakes and hugs and “it’s been a long time” kisses
Meeting the husbands and the Mrs.
Pictures being shown of kids and grandkids
Some of the men with no hair on their lids
From Paris, France and other faraway places
Reunite friends wearing older faces
Singing a chorus of “I remember you”
Even on occasion when they really haven’t a clue
Varsity jackets fitting a bit too tight
Remembering the days we were Alter Knights
Yearbooks that through the years have survived
Passed around so old memories can be revived
Thirty-five years in the blink of an eye
Some tears being shed for the few who have died
Congratulations to the Kettering Alter Class of ‘76
Many happy returns is my 35 year reunion wish
The 9th of June is a "special" day.
You're probably wondering why?
It's Birthday number Fifty,
for a "special" PS guy!
His poetic talent is beyond reproach.
He a genius of rhythm and rhyme.
Whenever I read any poem that he writes,
I'm impressed and amazed, every time!
He exhibits a vast range of emotions.
So many, that I am in awe!
The ones that are really a riot,
involve his mother-in-law!
He can make you feel gloom and disaster.
He can make you feel happy and proud.
He can make you feel hope and compassion,
or cause you to just laugh out loud!
I wanted to write this memento
to show just how I felt
and wish a big Happy Birthday,
to my poetic friend, Larry Belt.
Now, this is what's gonna happen.
It'll be on the 9th day of June!
All you Soupers listen real hard,
at, or real close to noon!
I'm gonna shout, real loud, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
My friend, I sure hope you will hear it!
Since, I can't physically be there with you,
by God, I'll be there in spirit!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GOOD BUDDY
Many happy returns
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.