Happy Birthday, Janelle Poem by Janet K. Rauch

When I was young
I used to wear
A pretty ribbon
In my hair

And on my back
I carried there
A soft, plush friend,
My Teddy Bear.

And as I grew
I carried books
No more cute pack
To grab the looks

Now I’ve grown up
And Teddy’s moved on
My life is unfolding
With each new dawn

Soon me and my hubby
New parents we’ll be
Hope some homeless Teddy
Finds our family!


(I wrote this poem for my daughter-in-law for the front of her birthday card. On April 29,2008, her 27th birthday, she was six months pregnant with my first grandbaby. Next to the poem was a photo of Janelle as a little girl - sporting her Teddy Bear backpack, so I decided to write the poem from her prospective.)