MY BIRTHDAY

Guess who was born
on an autumn night?
Dark and stormy
at ten forty-five.

October thirteenth,
nineteen forty four.
And a Friday, to boot.
Mama was scared to the core.

So, bring on the ladders.
Bring on Black cats.
Bring on the witches
with high pointy hats.

Bring on the night
with a great big full moon.
Bring on the monsters
and bring them real soon.

Bring on the wild things
and let them all fly.
None of these things
is as crazy as I.

Janet Brice Parker