Today is my birthday, and on this day it’s a tradition here on Poetry Pop to share my birthday acrostic poem to celebrate all birthdays in the coming year.

Although I curse the wrinkles and reading glasses, I embrace aging as I know it’s a privilege denied to many. Happy 2024 Birthday to all my readers and lovers of poetry!

In a simple acrostic poem, the first letters of each line spell out a word when reading down the page.

A BIRTHDAY ACROSTIC

Birthdays creep around every year like organized thieves
Intent on stealing our hair, our height, our youth.
Reaching out to us, they masquerade as friends.
Throwing confetti to distract us, they get us
High on sugar then rob us blind.
Dutifully, they leave gifts of wisdom and confidence.
And they nudge us with little reminders to be grateful.
Yes, grateful—that they are still coming around— with cake.

©Danna Smith at poetrypop.com. All rights reserved.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN

I hope you’ll give writing an acrostic poem a try. Write one for yourself or as a gift for a friend. Feel free to share your poem (or a note) in the comments below. Poetry is always better when shared!

HERE ARE THE RULES:

1. Choose a topic to write about (a word, name, or phrase).
2. Write the word in bold, capital letters down the side of the page.
3. Set the tone. Do you want your poem to be funny, sad, heartwarming, thoughtful?
4. Describe the subject in each line. It can be a word or a full sentence.
5. Acrostics can rhyme but they don’t have to.

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