A Birthday

My heart is like a singing bird
Whose nest is in a water'd shoot;
My heart is like an apple-tree
Whose boughs are bent with thickset fruit;
My heart is like a rainbow shell
That paddles in a halcyon sea;
My heart is gladder than all these
Because my love is come to me.

Raise me a dais of silk and down;
Hang it with vair and purple dyes;
Carve it in doves and pomegranates,
And peacocks with a hundred eyes;
Work it in gold and silver grapes,
In leaves and silver fleurs-de-lys;
Because the birthday of my life
Is come, my love is come to me.

by Christina Rossetti, 1857

Many happy returns to all the July babies! Yes, there are quite a number of you (though not as large a number as the October babies...) and yes, I remember each one, though 2 thick-skinned ones thought I wouldn't and had to remind me on the eves (I remember la, don't need to remind...).

Here's wishing all of you great times, plentiful blessings and many dreams come true. Happy birthday!