FOR THE LOVE OF MY LIFE THIS VALENTINE'S DAY

Valentine's Day is drawing nearer, and the truth is I still need to go out and get my wife a card. And then, of course I'll need to pick out something nice for her as well. I'm not sure what that'll be just yet. Something simple but sweet, that's usually what I try to get her. Though nothing of the sugary kind. She always hates it when I get her something of the sugary kind. Like chocolates, for example.

"What's wrong with a box of chocolates?" I asked her once. I know my wife has the same love for chocolate as most any woman does.

"Well, if you get me chocolates then I'll have to eat them," she explained to me.

Pretty profound, hey? Who'd have thunk it right? That you'd buy someone chocolates expecting they would be eaten. But I did eventually figure out that she doesn't want to eat them because she is sure as potatoes are a big thing in Idaho, that chocolate will probably add on a few, unwanted extra pounds.

Yeah. That one box of chocolates way back when, babe. Remember that? That was what did it. After the infamous box of chocolates that one fateful Valentine's Day, that was it. Right there in that heart-shaped box, it was all over from there on out. We had to fork out a lot of dough for those wider dressing mirrors, and what about those doorway expansions? Well...

So then the other day I happened to have been sifting through the hubbers I follow, and noticed that RedElf had published a rather timely hub (what holiday hubs aren't timely of course) on the topic of Valentine's Day, and more specifically, Valentine's poems as gifts to our special ladies. The hub was, "A Valentine's Gift: Three Love Poems." If you haven't read it, it's worth a read.

But it got me to thinking, yeah. That's it. A poem. Why not? That was it. Maybe a poem would be nice. After all, I think most women do, in fact like poetry. Guys can certainly appreciate it as well. And unlike a cold, pre-written card, a poem written from the heart truly is much better. Besides, cards often times don't quite say what's on your mind anyway.

Therein lie problem numero uno. Naturally I'm here, so it's true I like to write. I like to think I can get my thoughts down on paper well enough, in a coherent way, though I'd never proclaim to be any great writer. Moreover, I'm not that much into poetry. Not of the romantic kind anyway. I've read Edgar Alan Poe, and I've liked his stuff quite a lot. But that's some pretty dark stuff, and isn't necessarily romantic, although I suppose one could ascribe some romance to any poetry. Even in all its dark undertones, Poe's "The Raven" was a romantic lyric of sorts. Certainly it was about love.

I'm thinking just like in any form of writing, if you want to write it, you've got to read it. In this case the only poetry I've ever read wouldn't suit my wife's fancy at all. Though, it's about structure, right? Not content, but structure.

So, I thought, yeah. RedElf has got something there. I think a poem would be something special, something heartfelt.

Therein lies problem number two; I've never actually tried to write the stuff either. Honestly, when it comes to writing, poetry has always been sort of like a snaggle-toothed monster hiding in the closet. Something to fear. Let's face it, poems are hard as hell to write. You've got to get them just right, short and sweet. There's very little time to get the point across. If you've ever tried to write novels, you know they are actually easier to write than short stories—short stories are sort of like trying to stuff an inflatable mattress back into the box it came in. You know everything will fit, it's a matter of how you fold it all together that makes it fit right. Writing a poem is like trying to stuff an inflatable mattress into a ring box.

Still, I thought it might be simple enough. It's true It's true I know how I feel about her. I can probably express that well enough in words. I know how she makes me feel when she's around me. That can easily be put into words too. And certainly I know how she feels when I'm around as well, because I can see that pained, nervous twitch she gets right above her right eye when I walk into the room—no, I'm kidding of course. She loves me. She tells me so.

So, I actually sat down and worked on it a bit. I gave it my all and what I cam up with is farther down below. Nothing fancy. Nothing to make William Shakespeare sit up in his grave and pay homage to my efforts. Just something simple and sweet like the gifts I traditionally buy for my wife for Valentine's Day. I think she'll like it. I won't win any award for it. But it is straight from the heart, and it's how I feel.

In closing I only say thanks RedElf for the inspiration. Hopefully I'll have reason to thank you again after I present it to her. {wink, wink}

By the way, may everyone else have a wonderful Valentine's Day as well.

   Times, they may get rough and stuff,

      but still you stay with me

   In times of good and in times of bad,

      you see only the best in me

   You never say I've let you down,

      Instead you hold me, and you

      profess your love to me

   I am endeared to you and committed to you

      with every fiber of my being

   I am enamored by you and in love with you

      you are the purpose for my heart's beating

   There is nothing else I can ever see

      more beautiful than you are to me

   Every morning when I feel your warmth

      lying next to me

      I have to pinch myself, it's not a dream

   You are there for me, and I for you

      two people forever in love

   As we are now and will always be

      together Sweetie, just you and me

I LOVE YOU, SWEETIE, AND

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!