National Poetry Month: #haikudiary.20

How do you pack a

decades-long friendship into

a three-line haiku?

Committees, roadtrips,

Twitter, blog, NCTE,

breakfast at NorthStar.

Happy Birthday, Friend!

You continue to inspire

and to make us laugh.

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2021

 

Happy Birthday, Franki!

For Franki, On Her Birthday

You are an unspoken blessing to the teaching profession.
Your advocacy is a not-so-silent promise that all voices will be heard.
I know you are reluctant to accept the trophy of our accolades,
but where would we be without your impossible-to-ignore drumbeat of excellence?


©Mary Lee Hahn, 2019

#IF NOT FOR FRANKI

Happy Birthday, Franki!

It's a landmark birthday for you today

and we celebrate you

by reflecting on all the ways

you have made our world a better place.

(Thank you, Ruth, for the cute button!)

IF NOT FOR FRANKI

I wouldn't have written a book.

("You should write a book.")

IF NOT FOR FRANKI

I wouldn't be the blogger I am today.

("What's a blog? If you start it, I'll do it.")

IF NOT FOR FRANKI

I wouldn't have written for Choice Literacy.

("There's an article in that.")

IF NOT FOR FRANKI

I wouldn't be the professional I am today.

("Why do you think that?")

IF NOT FOR FRANKI

I wouldn't attend nearly so many conferences!

("Want to go to ______?")

IF NOT FOR FRANKI 

I wouldn't be on Twitter.

("Bill (Bass) will teach us.")

IF NOT FOR FRANKI

I wouldn't have gambled at all in Las Vegas.

("It's fun!")

IF NOT FOR FRANKI

There would be less laughter,

less book buying, and

less Starbucks Venti Awake Tea.

BECAUSE OF FRANKI

the world is a better place!

Poem #20 -- Happy Birthday, Franki !!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRANKI !!

We're the cupcakes,

You're the frosting.

You're the sprinkles on the top!

We're the shelves,

You're the books.

You could practically be the shop!

You're the fulcrum

of our balance.

You remind us to stay sane!

You're the laughter

that brightens our days.

A toast to you, with poetic champagne!

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2011

I hope you'll add your birthday wishes to Franki in the comments! Help me celebrate a fabulous blogging partner, a good friend, and a dynamic teacher/librarian. Three cheers for Franki !!!