I have never had a Valentine, my dear
But if I could have one, I would choose you
2020 was the strangest of years
But it was my favourite, because I met you.

Do you remember our first meeting?
You squeezed too much sanitizer on my hands
Then rubbed them with yours ever so sweetly
My heart didn’t stand a chance.

That June night, I ascended thirteen storeys
And discovered my new favourite view;
Your face that I can’t help adoring
And your eyes of oasis blue.

We spend evenings on your couch watching The Chase
Seeing how many questions we can answer
Followed by Inbetweeners or First Dates
Punctuated by the sound of our laughter.

These are my favourite kind of nights
But then again, any time of day feels special with you
And I’m so happy that you’re mine
And I hope that makes you happy too.

You concoct delicious dishes in your kitchen
Pastas, curries and casseroles
And I don’t believe you that you’re winging it
Because I always empty my bowl.

We share a love of music,
reading and laughing at memes
But my love for these is nothing
Compared to how you make me feel.

Will you be my Valentine every day
If I finally finish this poem?
I just need one more line to say
You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever known.

I miss you greeting me at your door
With the hug I’ve longed for
I miss you resting your head against my chest
Checking my aftershave, does it pass your sniff test?

I miss you concocting something delicious
While I sneak in to distract you in the kitchen
I miss your chilli you saved with tinned tomatoes
And your pasta with excessive pesto.

I miss you rolling your eyes at my bad jokes
Or me pretending that I’ve stole your nose
And you saying “don’t be a freak all your life"
Well, for you I promise to try.

I may be in isolation
And yes, I’m missing you
I may be in isolation
But my heart is always with you.

What makes a person?
A pile of imperfections
knitted together
with limited skill?

What makes a person?
Flesh and bone and muscle
and something more;
a soul?

What makes a person?
A sense of humour
The sound of laughter
A voice?

Who knows what makes a person?
But all our imperfections
Combine to make us unique
And precious.

The tongue that stumbles over certain words
The mind that's always full of doubt
The eyes that aren't quite aligned
The crooked smile at inappropriate times
Trusting too little or too much
The bruised heart that still loves

What makes a person?
Your flaws make you uniquely human
and uniquely you.
Embrace them.

I never intended to fall
Love is an accident I became prone to
On the night I met you.
Vividly I remember our first meeting
Eyes of blue making oceans green with envy
Looking into them gives a glimpse of  heaven
Your smile has taken me there already.
Now see what enriches my existence;
Delicious and exquisite kisses
And your voice in my ears!

I don't know how to turn off
the part of me that panics
but you do.
Oh yes, you really do.
You have the mute button
for my anxious mind
you calm the static storm
with the sound of your voice.
You readjust the picture
whenever it breaks up
or looks too dark
you help me see clearly
through the interference
not everything is coherent
but you give it a meaning
unique to you and I.

Dear Mr Undertaker
you might not remember my name
despite what the stone says
you might have coaxed the ghost of a smile
from my pale and dead face
but unfortunately i wish to complain:
this mahogany casket
is filled with maggots
I cannot escape from.
There isn't enough space
to move my limbs
and my whole body is stiff.
My neighbour is crazy
and keeps calling the names
of her fifty cats.
It stinks in here
the food is awful
and the phone reception is lousy.
Is it too late to get an exchange?
I would like a cremation
the receipt is in my pocket.

Sometimes
part of you
has to
die
for you to
continue
living.

Sometimes
what
used to be
the best
part of you
turns to
cancer.

Sometimes
the cancer spreads
to your mind
to your heart
to your soul
this is called
DEPRESSION.

Sometimes
half of you
wants to die
and half of you
feels numb
and all of you
feels like hell.

Sometimes
your eyes become
prison windows
and you see
no one there
but remember
i'm still here.

Sometimes
words are enough
to **** the cancer
but when they’re not
it’s okay to cry
it’s okay to scream
just let it out.

Remember
after the darkest nights
the sun still rises
after the most destructive storms
calm and tranquillity still comes
and you will
still be standing.