Let's make this birthday one to remember.

79 years old (Born on May 12, 1945)

Happy Birthday, Bernadette! May your day be as delightfully unpredictable and wonderfully stream-of-consciousness as your poetry. From the playful brilliance of *Ceremony Latin* to the lyrical adventures in *The Formal Field of Kissing*, you've shown us that language can dance, stumble, giggle, and surprise—all at once.

Here's hoping this year brings you even more poetic mischief and creative chaos. Whether you're dazzling readers with another groundbreaking work or simply jotting down grocery lists (which we suspect are secretly brilliant poems), may every moment overflow with inspiration. Cheers to you—our favorite literary rebel who makes words endlessly fun!