Let's make this birthday one to remember.

83 years old (Born on July 11, 1941)

Happy Birthday, James Reiss! Today we celebrate the brilliant poet who taught us it takes *Ten Thousand Good Mornings* to finally wake up clever enough for breakfast. Your timeless verses from *The Parable of Fire* have warmed so many readers that fire extinguishers should probably come standard with every copy!

And let's not forget your insightful critiques penned for The Plain Dealer—after all, navigating literary criticism is a daring adventure on its own. May you continue crafting poetic masterpieces and chasing metaphors gracefully through pages (or perhaps more accurately: allowing them to chase you) in health and inspiration forevermore!