It's Valentine's Day

It’s Valentines Day!

If you are fortunate in life, or maybe just lucky, you will one day find true love.  I am convinced that true love is bestowed on you only once in your time.  Of course there will be many people you care about and you may even love them truly, but when you find your real true love the impact is so unique, so overwhelming that you will have no doubt about what it is.  The Italians have an expression, “Colpo di fulmine,” which loosely translated means “thunderbolt”.  I’ve always thought that expressed the feeling as well as anything I ever heard.

I was extremely fortunate beyond my wildest imaginings to find my true love after waiting only 30 years.  She is my lover, my best friend, as well as my harshest, truest critic.  I met her the last weekend in July of 1977 and, for me; it was “Colpo di fulmine,” at once.   I knew from that first time that this was the woman with whom I wanted to spend the rest of my life and fortunately, for me, she felt the same.

Some years back, after the last child was gone and we were once again a couple, I watched her busily cross stitching away in her den chair as I sat across from her with a book; a boring picture at age 25, but a comfortable one at 55.  For some reason I was struck by the moment and I guess, as it does from time to time, the muse came upon me and I wrote the poem below.

There are many who see this day as a Hallmark invention and maybe they are correct.  However, maybe we need a day, just one day to close out the worries of life and the dangers of the world, take a deep breath, look at the person across the room and simply say, “I love you.”

Sonnet for Nancy

 Sitting there quietly sewing as you are wont to do,

I watch the candle flicker off your alabaster skin.

In a rush I am reminded of the love I have for you,

And how once a flame was kindled that still burns within

Us both.  I am remiss to say the words as often as I should,

And through this time got from your heart more than you received.

Now tonight as I watch, you unaware, remembering all the good

We’ve shared.  Tapestry of life and lives together we weave.

First two, then four and five.  Babies, children, growing, grown.

Baseball, soccer, dance recitals, schedules frantic beyond relief.

First needing all our love and, now wanting just to be alone.

Our one life has seen it all you know, great joy and deepest grief.

Such love is one for all the ages, of that there is no doubt.

So roll me in your arms love and blow the candle out.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all who have found true love and all those who seek it still.

On A Mother's Passing

On A Mother’s Passing

On bleak, grey, wintry days my thoughts oft turn to you, whose warming flame flickered out some twenty years ago.

And love, above all else, love.

Hot chocolate, marshmellows, and icy snow cream that froze the brain and brought smiles to chilly souls.

And love, above all else, love.

Meat loaf and creamed potatoes rising like smooth vanilla mountains and baking bread that warmed inside as well as out.

And love, above all else, love.

Mischievous smiles and flashing eyes that charmed a gentler, safer world so different from my own.

And love, above all else, love.

That party spirit like some benign host infecting all you knew with a joy for life; now missed, now missed.

And love, above all else, love.

And love, above all else, love.

Unquestioned love.

Unqualified love.

Unconditional love.

I see you there, frozen as the day, for eternity; hands on hip, head cocked not buying one bit of my well-worn bull.

And love, above all else, love.

Though I am now so far away you are ever near; the smile and spirit and essence that was you.

And love, above all else, love.

I see you on an icebound hill, flush with the ebullience of your youth.

I see you in a kitchen warmed by the magic of your love and touch.

I see you close beside my bed and bend and kiss, “All’s well, all’s well”.

Time has healed the open wound but the scar of your passing still remains.

Time has dulled my memory but the aching void you left behind still remains.

Time has moved on but you wait in a long passed frozen moment that still remains.

Time has eroded the details of the day, stripping them away till all that still remains is the

Love, above all else, love.