Yesterday, April 23rd, was Shirley Temple‘s birthday. You’ll want to watch her sing “On The Good Ship Lollipop” (2:34 min), sing “Animal Crackers in My Soup” (4:46 min), and tap dance with Bo Jangles Robinson in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (3:12 min)
How can I resist writing a poem to her?
(Remember, gang, this is the raw material…I spent several hours tossing out ideas that weren’t working; it will take several more hours–or days–to make it a good poem.)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHIRLEY!
by April Halprin Wayland
There’s Shirley Temple in sailor cap–
tappity tap
sunny, dimpled, she made the world laugh.
She danced with Bo Jangles on anything flat;
tappity tat
everyone wanted her autograph.
These days she pours over colorful maps–
tappity tap
happy birthday, tap-dancing diplomat!
© 2010 April Halprin Wayland. All rights reserved
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