Let's make this birthday one to remember.

85 years old (Born on April 25, 1939)

Happy Birthday to the one-and-only Ted Kooser, the poetic genius who turned life's simple "Delights and Shadows" into Pulitzer-winning magic. Whether guiding us quietly through starlit pages in "Flying at Night," or helping us see beauty unfold patiently—"One World at a Time," Ted has always known exactly how many words it takes to charm readers (spoiler: fewer than you'd think).

Thanks for more than just poetry, though; thanks for setting impossibly high literary expectations! Here's hoping your birthday is filled with timeless joy—as ageless as your poems—and that you continue proving simplicity can be remarkably sophisticated. Keep illuminating ordinary moments beautifully!