President's Day? Presidents' Day? Or Presidents Day?

February 15, 2021

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is politics in honor of Presidents Day, which this year is celebrated on February 15.

I welcome comments on my poems at https://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

A poem for Presidents Day on how to spell the holiday’s name:

President's Day? Presidents' Day? Or Presidents Day?
Regarding spelling, what's the difference?
Even apostrophes must have their say,
Subtly shading each rendition's sense.
In the first, Washington alone
Deserves the day, the only president
Every state has honored on its own.
Nor does the change of name change what is meant.*
The second rendition suggests that Lincoln, too,
Should share the honor, combining holidays
'Tween their birthdays, giving both their due,
Depending on which state such honor pays.
All presidents, too, the second could convey,
Yet the third one must be read that way.

*Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays used to be celebrated separately, though not all states recognized Lincoln's Birthday as a holiday.

© by Nicholas Gordon

To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/presid.html. For more poems for Presidents Day, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/presidentsdaypoems.html.

This week’s theme: Politics.
February 15: President’s Day? Presidents’ Day? Or Presidents Day?