Let's make this birthday one to remember.

89 years old (Born on August 24, 1935)

Happy Birthday, Rosmarie Waldrop! May your day be filled with reluctant gravities—though hopefully not too reluctant when it comes to cake and celebration. Your poetic brilliance has translated life's complexities into verses that even gravity itself would pause to ponder.

From "Blindsight" to unlocking the mysteries of language in "A Key into the Language of America," you've gracefully danced between languages and cultures, earning accolades like the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation. Here's hoping this birthday brings you as much joy as your words have brought readers worldwide—and may all future translations involve fewer dictionaries and more desserts!