How Do I Love Thee? Get a Pen...

February. A month singled out to celebrate love. Chocolates, flowers, little love notes and valentines abound. There are those with short notes like -" I love you!" or those with more suggestive undertones such as "You are so Hot!" (not so subtle). But true romantic love poems? Where do they fit in these days? By twitter? IM? Email? Hallmark perhaps? I really don't know. They are not in the drug store or market boxes of valentines that have Miley Cyrus all over them.

On occasion we hear public declarations of love, usually directed at a particular person - a spouse, parent and or child.. Weddings, anniversaries and other milestone parties and/or events are times when we are not surprised to hear or receive remarks of gratitude, praise and of love. ( Doug, that was so beautiful last week to your wife Marcie). Who wouldn't love to hear fabulous, loving things said to them or just within earshot. And, to watch someone take it all in - well, priceless, as they say.

But what about more private declarations? For centuries, love poems have been written to create romance and to inspire. Pen to actual paper. They often express passion and deepest yearnings. They will never go out of style. Do you dare author a love poem this year for your Valentine? (That would really be HOT).

Here is a famous love poem by e.e. cummings (note that he used an unorthodox manner of grammar and spacing but it definitely creates mood):

I carry your heart with me
by e.e. cummings

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than would can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)




iconic LOVE sculpture featured above by Robert Indiana