Valentines

We celebrate Valentines once a year on this day...  by giving our sweetheart, a card, candy, and roses (or some kind of bouquet of flowers).  We do not really know where the tradition started or why and don't really care, because we observe it nonetheless.

Ever since graduating from high school, I have been of the opinion that I could not only write my own valentine's poem better than any card that I could find, but it would also save me money in the process, because a poem would substitute for card, candy, and roses.

During my two marriages (the second one is still active), I have written a poem for Valentines.  The one below is the one I gave my second wife this year.

VALENTINES 2025

A gift of greeting this day represents

for old and young alike they say,

A sweetheart chosen by many

others just an infatuation perhaps...

Those of us who have lived a while

see not the gift or greeting or sweetheart

but the person with whom we have spent

over one third of our lives and with

whom we have loved and continue to love,

With whom we have disagreed and with

whom we have shared the best of life

and the negative side of life as well...

We see the partner with whom we have

built our life and future and with whom

we see at first light when we awake,

We see the person with whom we share

our soul, our hopes, fears and happiness,

valentines are perpetual for us or not at all...