Submit your work, meet writers and drop the ads. Become a member
VALENTINE, VALENTINE WHERE ARE YOU?  I DEPEND UPON YOUR LOVE, TO HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH.
VALENTINE, VALENTINE YOU ARE ON MY MIND.  WITHOUT HAVING YOU IN MY LIFE;  I CAN'T SEEM TO SHINE.
VALENTINE, VALENTINE, OH WHAT A GLORIOUS DAY.  YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO ME; I DON'T HAVE WORDS TO SAY.
VALENTINE, VALENTINE I LOVE TO SEE YOUR SMILE.  EVEN IN THE CLOTHES YOU WEAR, I TRULY LOVE YOUR STYLE.
VALENTINE, VALENTINE MAY OUR LOVE REIGN FOREVER.  WOULD IT EVER DEPART, TO THIS I  WILL SAY,"NEVER?"
BY, AUTHOR & POET, SANDRA JUANITA NAILING
Michael R Burch Feb 2021
The First Valentine Poem

Charles d’Orleans (1394-1465) has been credited with writing the first Valentine poem for his wife in 1415. Charles wrote the first Valentine poem in the first year of his captivity while being held prisoner in the Tower of London.

My Very Gentle Valentine
by Charles d’Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

My very gentle Valentine,
Alas, for me you were born too soon,
As I was born too late for you!
May God forgive my jailer
Who has kept me from you this entire year.
I am sick without your love, my dear,
My very gentle Valentine.

Keywords/Tags: Valentine, Valentines Day, love, poem, poetry, poets, romance, romantic love, heart, passion



Valentine Poems for the Ultimate Lovers: Mothers



Mother’s Smile
by Michael R. Burch

There never was a fonder smile
than mother’s smile, no softer touch
than mother’s touch. So sleep awhile
and know she loves you more than “much.”

So more than “much,” much more than “all.”
Though tender words, these do not speak
of love at all, nor how we fall
and mother’s there, nor how we reach
from nightmares in the ticking night
and she is there to hold us tight.

There never was a stronger back
than father’s back, that held our weight
and lifted us, when we were small,
and bore us till we reached the gate,
then held our hands that first bright mile
till we could run, and did, and flew.
But, oh, a mother’s tender smile
will leap and follow after you!



Delicacy
by Michael R. Burch

Your love is as delicate
as a butterfly cleaning its wings,
as soft as the predicate the hummingbird sings
to itself, gently murmuring?
“Fly! Fly! Fly!”
Your love is the string
soaring kites untie.

This is another poem suitable for mothers, especially for those with children who are growing up and learning to fly on their own.



Sweet Valentine Poems for Sweethearts



Passionate One
by Michael R. Burch

Love of my life,
light of my morning?
arise, brightly dawning,
for you are my sun.

Give me of heaven
both manna and leaven?
desirous Presence,
Passionate One.



don’t forget ...
by Michael R. Burch
(after e. e. cummings)

don’t forget to remember
that Space is curved
(like your Heart)
and that even Light is bent
by your Gravity.

This may be a good Valentine poem for someone who "centers" a household or relationship with their love.



Kissin’ ’n’ buzzin’
by Michael R. Burch

Kissin’ ’n’ buzzin’
the bees rise
in a dizzy circle of two.
Oh, when I’m with you,
I feel like kissin’ ’n’ buzzin’ too!

I dedicated this Valentine's Day poem to the love of my life, but you are welcome to dedicate it to the love of yours.



The One True Poem
by Michael R. Burch

Love was not meaningless ...
nor your embrace, nor your kiss.

And though every god proved a phantom,
still you were divine to your last dying atom ...

So that when you are gone
and, yea, not a word remains of this poem,

even so,
We were One.



The Poem of Poems
by Michael R. Burch

This is my Poem of Poems, for you.
Every word ineluctably true:
I love you.



Sudden Shower
by Michael R. Burch

The day’s eyes were blue
until you appeared
and they wept at your beauty.

This is a "rainy day" Valentine poem that might come in handy when the weather interferes with other plans.



Let Me Give Her Diamonds
by Michael R. Burch

Let me give her diamonds
for my heart's
sharp edges.

Let me give her roses
for my soul's
thorn.

Let me give her solace
for my words
of treason.

Let the flowering of love
outlast a winter
season.

Let me give her books
for all my lack
of reason.

Let me give her candles
for my lack
of fire.

Let me kindle incense,
for our hearts
require

the breath-fanned
flaming perfume
of desire.

This is an "apology" poem that may come in handy when trying to make up, and perhaps make out!



Passion & Desire: Some of these poems will go well with gifts of lingerie …



Sappho, fragment 42
translation by Michael R. Burch

Eros harrows my heart:
wild winds whipping desolate mountains
uprooting oaks.




Sappho, fragment 155
translation by Michael R. Burch

A short revealing frock?
It's just my luck
your lips were made to mock!



Sappho, fragment 22
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

That enticing girl's clinging dresses
leave me trembling, overcome by happiness,
as once, when I saw the Goddess in my prayers
eclipsing Cyprus.



Negligibles
by Michael R. Burch

Show me your most intimate items of apparel;
begin with the hem of your quicksilver slip ...



Warming Her Pearls
by Michael R. Burch

Warming her pearls,
her ******* gleam like constellations.
Her belly is a bit rotund ...
she might have stepped out of a Rubens.

If your lover isn't rail-thin, this poem may be a good way to compliment her curves.



Duet, Minor Key
by Michael R. Burch

Without the drama of cymbals
or the fanfare and snares of drums,
I present my case
stripped of its fine veneer:
Behold, thy instrument.

Play, for the night is long.



Are You the Thief
by Michael R. Burch

When I touch you now,
O sweet lover,
full of fire,
melting like ice
in my embrace,
when I part the delicate white lace,
baring pale flesh,
and your face
is so close
that I breathe your breath
and your hair surrounds me like a wreath ...
tell me now,
O sweet, sweet lover,
in good faith:
are you the thief
who has stolen my heart?



Righteous
by Michael R. Burch

Come to me tonight
in the twilight, O, and the full moon rising,
spectral and ancient, will mutter a prayer.

Gather your hair
and pin it up, knowing
that I will release it a moment anon.

We are not one,
nor is there a scripture
to sanctify nights you might spend in my arms,

but the swarms
of stars revolving above us
revel tonight, the most ardent of lovers.


Second Sight
by Michael R. Burch

I never touched you—
that was my mistake.

Deep within,
I still feel the ache.

Can an unformed thing
eternally break?

Now, from a great distance,
I see you again

not as you are now,
but as you were then—

eternally present
and Sovereign.
Daylight 4U2C Feb 2014
Valentine oh valentine,
the sweetest wine,
a valentine.
Always mine,
my valentine.
To hug when I am, oh so bored.
Valentine oh valentine,
so calm; refined,
my valentine.
Never leave my mind,
my iridescent valentine.
Lest' you thus strick me with a sword.
It's kind of short. Should I make it longer or leave it?
Every Valentine's Day, my love for you is renewed,
Every Valentine's Day, your love in my heart accrued.

Every Valentine's Day, you dwell within my soul,
And "I love you" from my heart does unroll.

Every Valentine's Day, you're closer than my breath,
You possess my life, every feeling, until death.

Every Valentine's Day, you're my hopes and dreams,
The passion my heart yearns for, it seems.

Every Valentine's Day, you're my world and life's zest,
You're my solace, in turmoil, my dearest quest.

Every Valentine's Day, beside me you stand,
Every Valentine's Day, you're my dreams, so grand.

Every Valentine's Day, no love but for you,
Every Valentine's Day, my thoughts, my soul ensue.

Every Valentine's Day, you're flowers and trees,
Every Valentine's Day, all memories, thoughts, and pleas.
dennis gunsteen Feb 2011
be my  valentine
because you are  endless song of my heart.
O" please be valentine my lovely angel of life.
be  my valentine i'am the  frog you miss!
'because i'am  the perfect prince'.
be my  valentine
because you are the rainbow of my heart
and the music of my life.
be my  valentine
you bring music to  my life
and  put a  song in my heart.
be my valentine
because
you are  lost  treasure
of my heart an my life
i'am lost with out you
because i love you.
be my valentine in sand of time
let grow and wise in life
and share the music of life
in sand of time together.
be my valentine.
because i love you my love.
as travel these road in life
to build a perfect world
for you my love.
in the sand of time.
dennis gunsteen Feb 2011
i bare soul an love you so
much my love
my valentine song.
you are music in my life.
you are the valentine song.
you are the star that shine
in my life.
what is love but love with
in your eyes.
my valentine  song
you are the beauty in the moon
lite night.
you truly are the angel
of my heart.
because you are my valentine
song .
you are my love my true love
in life.
true blue as sea of life.
my valentine song  that bring
joy to my life.
you are endless song of love
in moon lite night.
the valentine song of my heart
you are my love in life.
my valentine song.
i love you i love you
my sweet valentine song.
Judypatooote Feb 2015
HOME MADE VALENTINES DAY...

Back in the 1940's when I was young
Valentines Day was so special

Everything was homemade
from the Valentine box,
the Valentines,
and Valentine cookies.

As the room mother one year
my mom was asked to make a large
Valentine Box

I remember the doilies that we
colored in, we had ruffles,
glitter on little hearts,
everything was pink, white and red.

The big Valentine box was put on
the teachers desk
Then as each child came in
they deposited their Valentines
in the beautiful Valentine Box.

I can't remember seeing the teacher
remove the Valentines from the box
but somehow she did, and a couple
of us kids got to pass out the cards.

We took them home in a paper bag.

But first we opened them up....
Always excited to see if we got
a special one from someone special...

Did you get one from Jimmy,
or best friend Sue
Here's  one from the teacher
with a sucker too...

As the years passed by, and I became a mother
I helped my children make their own
small Valentine Box.
With Doilies, red hearts and
the most important part was glitter....
and they came home from school
filled with cards picked up at the
Valentine Store...

But
as years passed on
the Grandkids were more creative.
A Valentine Box
that looked like
a Lady Bug
each year they became more creative.

But
none as beautiful in my eyes
as the big large Valentine Box
my mom made.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY...

by judy
chris Feb 2016
My funny Valentine
Sweet comic Valentine
You make me smile with my heart

My funny Valentine
Sweet comic Valentine
You make me smile with my heart

Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
Yet you're my favourite work of art

Is your figure less than greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to speak
Are you smart? (yeah)

Don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay, little Valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's day

Is your figure less than greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to speak
Are you smart? (yeah)

Don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay, little Valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's day
frank sinatra
Be my valentine in the morn.
Be my valentine when a new day is born.
Be my valentine in the night.
Be my valentine when the time is just right.
Be my valentine forever more
Be my valentine. It’s you I adore.
I’ve said everything, and now I will say.
Be my valentine on Valentine’s Day.
This is one of my before 2003 poems.
dennis gunsteen Feb 2011
o1 be  my valentine.
    why?
because you are  song of my heart.
that bring music to my life.

02. be my valentine
why ?
because you are beautiful
with in your  soul.
you bring peace to my life
an bring joy hope  in my life.

03. be my valentine
why?
you are the corner stone
in my life.
you are the angel of my heart.
you are the sun an the rain and
sun rise an the sun set in my life.

04.be my valentine
why?

because I'll always  buy you
scratch off to keep your  heart
at peace.
an I'll play the  lottery to try
to make you rich some day.
this how roll my honey bunny.

05. be my valentine

because i love you
so dear an warm .
an lost with out you
in life.
you mine the whole
world to me my love.
you true gift in my life
from the heaven above.
so let walk these road
an be my valentine for
life.
let grow old in life  together.
because you are my valentine
song in life.
Alexander K Opicho
(Eldoret, Kenya;aopicho@yahoo.com)

Here is a toast for valentine
Valentine in all seasons perennial
Where angst of money for love  
Cradled utopian capitalism,
It is once again in the city of Omurate
In the south most parts of Ethiopia
On the borders of Kenya and Ethiopia
Where actually the river Ormo enters Lake Turkana,
There lived a pair of lovers
With overt compassion for one another
The male lover was an origin of Nyangtom,
A cattle rustling Nilotic kingdom
While the female lover was a descendant of King Solomon
The Jewish children which King Solomon aborted
Because their mother was an Ethiopian African
They now form substantial part of the Ethiopian population
Their clan is known as Amharic, they speak subverted Yiddish,
These lovers were good to one another
Sharing secrets and all other stuffs that go with love.

Both the lovers were fatherless
They had lost their fathers through early death
They only had the mothers, who were again sickly
Their mothers coughed a whole night with whoops
And when in the wee of the night, when temperatures go low
The mothers breathe with wheezing sound
Like peasant music from African violin,
They didn’t eat with good appetite
They always left irritating chunks on the plates,
But they all puked mucus from their mouths
And of course with a very sickening regularity.

The menace of sick mothers intervened with love freedom
Among the inter-compassionate lovers
They did not have time for real active love
I will not mention recurrent missing of ceremonies
Fetes that are bound to go with valentine day
The lovers were bored to their teeth
They don’t knew when gods will come to unyoke them.

Especially the male lover, was most perturbed
His mother looked sorriest
With a scrofulous look on her old aged African face
She looked like a forlorn erstwhile cattle rustler
She ever whined in pain like a trapped hyena
Her son the male lover even began apologizing
To the female lover for such environmental upsets
Hence an African proverb that;
No love is possible with impaired judgment.

One day in the wee of the night
With no electricity nor any source of light
Darkness engulfing each and every aspect of the city
Confirming the hinterland of Africa
The female lover woke up from the sleep
And she never heard the usual wheezing breathes
That her mother often made in such hours,
Feat of suspicion gripped her
She jumped out of her bed to where her mother was
On feeling her, she found her dead, cold like a black member
She was already past the rigor mortis stage of death process
African chilliness had frozen her like a poikilothermic creature.

She wept but not in the uproarious groan
In that instinctive Jewish shrewdness
She did not announce nor inform her lover of her mother’s death
She only washed and groomed the cadaver of her mother
She made a headscarf around the head of dead mother
She even placed reading glasses on her face
On her mother’s dead torso she wrapped a dress
The most expensive of all bought from Egypt,
In the same wee of the night
She carried cadaver of her mother on her shoulders
The way a poor Nigerian farmer would carry a stem of banana
And walked slowly by slowly for a distance of a hundred kilometers
Down ***** into Kenya towards the city of Todanyang in Turkana County
Todanyang was a busy city, but silent and minus people in the night
The king of this city was called Lapur the son of Turkanai
And the law that Lapur passed in this city was archaic
It was; an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a Jew for a Jew
A pokot for a pokot, a samburu for a samburu
It was simply the law with nothing else
Other than clauses of measure for measure
And clauses of *** for tat instantaneously administered,
On reaching the market she placed her mother standing
Being supported on a sign post at the bus stage
In pose similar to that of an early morning traveler,
She sat a side like a prowling spider awaiting foolish fly
They way an African ***** exposes its red ****
And when the hen comes to peck
It traps and closes the head of the hen
Deeper into its ****,
At that bus stage there was a hotel
Owned by a Rwandese refugee
From the foolish clan of the Hutu
He had ran away from the genocide
In his country, he was also the perpetrator
And thus he was a runaway from the law *** hotelier
His name was Chapuchapu, meaning the quick one,
When Chapuchapu opened the hotel for the early customers
The female lover walked into the hotel
With innocence on her face like all the Jews
She placed an order for two mugs of coffee
And two pieces of bread
When Chapuchapu had placed food on the table
The female lover shrewdly instructed Chapuchapu
To go and hold the hand of the woman standing at the sign post
To bring her into the hotel for morning tea,
Chapuchapu in his unsuspecting charisma
With a mad drive to make money that morning
He dashed out as instructed with his foolish notion
That the customer is the queen, which is not
He grapped the standing cadaver with force
On pulling her to come along
The cadaver tumbled down like a marionette
Everything falling away; headscarf and glasses
Chapuchapu was overtaken by awe
The female lover was watching
Like the big brother in the Orwellian satire, 1984.
When the cadaver of her mother fell
She came out of the hotel
Screaming like a hundred vehicles
Of St John Ambulance
And two hundred Kenyan vehicles of fire brigade
And three hundred Kenyan cash transfer vehicles,
She was accusing Chapuchapu for being careless
Careless in his work that he had killed her mother,
Swam of armed humanity in Turkana loinclothes
Began pouring in like waters of Nile into Mediterranean
Female lover improved the scale of her screaming
Chapuchapu like a heavyweight idiot was dumbfounded
Armed people came in their infinite
Finally king Lapur arrived on his royal donkey
That his foot soldiers had only rustled
From Samburu land a fortnight ago,
The presence of the king quelled the hullabaloo
The king asked to find out what had happened
Amid sops the female lover narrated how
Chapuchapu the hotelier had killed her mother
Through his careless helter skelter behaviour
The king sighed and shouted the judgment
To the mad crowd; an eye for a……….!?
The crowd responded back to the King
In a feat of amok value;
For an eye you mighty Lapur son  ofTurkanai,
The stones, kicks, jabs began rainning
In volleys on an innocent Chapuchapu
Amid shouts that **** him, he came here to **** people
The way he killed a thousand fold in Rwanda.

The sopping female lover requested the king
That his people wait a bit before they continue
Then the king waved to the people to stop
Chapuchapu was on the ground writhing in pain
When the King asked the female lover what was the concern
She requested for pay from Chapuchapu not people to **** him
Chapuchapu accepted to pay whatever the price that will be put
Female lover asked for everything in hundreds;
Carmel, money, Birr, sheep, goats, donkeys, cows
Name them all they were in hundreds
Chapuchapu and his family were saying yes to every demand
And they rushed to bring whatever was said
The payments exhausted Chapuchapu back to square zero
The female lover carried everything away
The cadaver of her mother on her shoulder
She disappeared into the forest
and buried her mother there.

When she arrived home she found the male lover
He looked at her overnight change in fortune in stupefaction
He didn’t believe his eyes, it was a dream
Sweetheart, where have you gotten all these?
Questioned the male lover
Sweetie darling there is market for dead women
At Todanyang in the Turkana County of Kenya
I killed my sickly mother and carried her cadaver
As a trade ware to Todanyang
Whatever I have that you are looking at is the proceed,
Can my mother fetch the same? Asked the male lover
Of course yes, even more
Given the Africanness of your mother
African cadavers fetch more than the Jewish ones
At Todanyang market,
The male lover was now overtaken
By strong urge for quick riches
Was not seeing it getting evening
That day for him was as long as a whole century
He was anxious and restless more tired of a sickly mother
When evening fell he was already ready with the butcherer’s tools
He didn’t have nerves to wait till the wee of the night
As early as eleven in the evening he axed his mother’s head
Into two chunks of human skull spilling the brains in stark horror
Blood streaming like a rivulet all over the house
The male lover was nonchalant to all these
He was in the full feat of determination
To **** and sell his mother to  get the proceeds
With which he could foot the bills of valentine day.

He stuffed the headless blood soaked torso
Of his mothers cadaver in the sisal bag
He threw it to his bag
And began going to Todanyang
The market for human dead bodies
He went half running and half walking
With regular whistling of his favourite poem;
Ode to my Jewish lover
He reached Todanyang in the wee of the night
No human being was in sight
All people had gone as it was late in the night
He then slept in the open with dead body of his mother
Stuffed in the sisal bag beside him
Wandering night dogs regularly disturbed him
As they came to bite at smelling curdled blood
But he always scared them away.
As per the male lover he overslept till five in the morning
But when he woke up he unhesitatingly began to shout
Advertising his ware of trade in foolish version;
Am selling, the body of my mother, I have killed,
I killed her myself, it is still fresh, come and buy,
I will give you’re a bargain price,

When the morning came
People began crowding around him
As he kept on shouting his advertisement
Also Lapur the king came
He was surprised with the situation,
He asked the male lover to confirm
Whatever he was shouting
The male lover vehemently confirmed,
Then the law of an eye for an eye
Effortlessly took its course
Lapur  ordered his people, in a glorious royal decree
To stone the male lover to death
And bury him away without ceremony
Along with his mother in the sisal bag
In the wasted cemetery of villains
The same way Pablo Neruda
Had to bury his dead dog behind the house,

On hearing the tidings
About what had befallen her lover
The female lover had to send out a long giggle
Coming deep from her heart with maximum joy
She took over the estate of the male lover
Combined with hers,
All the animals and everything she took,
She made her son the manager
The son whom she immaculately conceived
Without any nuptial experience in the usual Jewish style
And their wealth multiplied to vastness
And hence toxic valentine gave birth to capitalism
DieingEmbers Feb 2013
I offer you the finer things
the moon and stars and saturns rings
and all the joy this night may bring
for you my valentine

The beers chilled the blanket spread
on sand of gold no finer bed
sweet nothings whispered cheeks rose red
for you my valentine

The ocean lapping at the shore
making music for sweet amour
for you and I and no one more
for you my valentine

Your hand in mine and mine in yours
secluded here beneath the stars
no need for clubs nor smokey bars
for you my valentine

The darkness hides us from their view
just you with me and I with you
making this night a time for two
for you my valentine

A kiss a touch a mem'ry staid
here beyond the promenade
where you and I our own fun made
for you my valentine

The dawn is set the morning wakes
across our toes the ocean breaks
as we dispel with love our aches
for you my valentine
I wrote a poem offering a poem for my valentine and Melissa was the first brave soul to say yes lol this is her prize
Jaaxxx Feb 2016
She's my Valentine
My Samson's hair that I lose to fear
She's my  Valentine
That girl. She's my Achilles' heel

She's my Valentine
Skin's warmer than sunlight
cuddles in cold nights

She's my Valentine
Her lips are my favorite wine
She's my Valentine
Her words are my favorite lines

She's my Valentine
Her smile is my reason
to face all seasons

The world's spinning fast
but all is fine
as long as I have her because
She's my Valentine
I don't have a Valentine
It's Valentines day once again.

She woke up with memories warm. As a kid, when they didn't know anything about Valentine's Day, her mother said, it was after a saint, who preached love.
She loved to be loved; so she asked her mother, can I be your Valentine ? Her Mom said, most certainly, I love you, with all my heart. After a while, her best friend came along to play with her. She asked him, " can I be your Valentine? He looked a little confused, but when she explained, he said we will be Valentines forever and ever. This thrilled her. They promised eachother to be Valentines for life.
Every year, Falgun would bring something on this special day for her. She would make something special, with her art material and gift him too. This went on through school and college. Everyone knew they were Valentines.
After graduation, Falgun, left Alka behind and proceeded to USA for further studies. They wrote and called regularly, but as often happens, Falgun kept saying he was busy and those much awaited phone calls, became scarce; though, he would always call her on this special day and her birthday.
He called her once, and said he was marrying a foreigner, to obtain citizenship but she would always be his Valentine, his first love. This was disastrous. She went into depression and became an introvert. On next Valentine's Day when he called, Alka's mother picked up the phone and gave him a piece of her mind. She said, he had ruined her daughter's life. He said,  "just once, let me speak to her." He told Alka, it was a contract marriage and he would always love her. But Alka was firm, she said, " we must part". And so they did. Yet he would always call her on her Birthday and on Valentine's.
Today, she hoped to get his call. It was almost evening, and he would be calling anytime. Her heart yearned to hear his voice. After all, he was her first and only love. she would wait for months for these two days.
This evening, she was getting impatient, watching the phone and the clock. She held a book but could hardly concentrate. Just then, the door bell rang. She went to answer it, wondering who it could be. When she opened it she saw a huge bouquet of flowers, but couldn't see the face holding it. She hoped, he had sent her these flowers. Out popped a head; and she screamed with joy. Oh no, this can't be true !!! I am imagining things... Am I hallucinating ?

No she wasn't. It was indeed Falgun. They embraced and kissed each other, danced with joy, like little children. After a while, he said, " hello my darling Valentine, are you fine ?".
He then reached his pocket, removed two rings and proposed. Without a second thought, she accepted.  It was a solitaire and and eternity band. He said, I was waiting for this day to surprise her. I have decided to now settle down here, with you, in our own country. Will you be my Bride.
In disbelief, she stood dumbfounded. As he looked deeply into her eyes, she nodded and the rings now shone on her beautiful slender fingers. All she could say was, my childhood has returned.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, TO ALL THE LOVERS IN THIS WORLD. KEEP LOVING.

Armin Dutia Motashaw
Michael R Burch Feb 2020
Rondel: Your Smiling Mouth
by Charles d'Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation/modernization by Michael R. Burch

Your smiling mouth and laughing eyes, bright gray,
Your ample ******* and slender arms’ twin chains,
Your hands so smooth, each finger straight and plain,
Your little feet—please, what more can I say?

It is my fetish when you’re far away
To muse on these and thus to soothe my pain—
Your smiling mouth and laughing eyes, bright gray,
Your ample ******* and slender arms’ twin chains.

So would I beg you, if I only may,
To see such sights as I before have seen,
Because my fetish pleases me. Obscene?
I’ll be obsessed until my dying day
By your sweet smiling mouth and eyes, bright gray,
Your ample ******* and slender arms’ twin chains!



The First Valentine Poem

Charles d’Orleans (1394-1465), a French royal, the grandchild of Charles V, and the Duke of Orleans, has been credited with writing the first Valentine card, in the form of a poem for his wife. Charles wrote the poem in 1415 at age 21, in the first year of his captivity while being held prisoner in the Tower of London after having been captured by the British at the Battle of Agincourt.

My Very Gentle Valentine
by Charles d’Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

My very gentle Valentine,
Alas, for me you were born too soon,
As I was born too late for you!
May God forgive my jailer
Who has kept me from you this entire year.
I am sick without your love, my dear,
My very gentle Valentine.



Le Primtemps (“Spring” or “Springtime”)
by Charles d’Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation/modernization by Michael R. Burch

Young lovers,
greeting the spring
fling themselves downhill,
making cobblestones ring
with their wild leaps and arcs,
like ecstatic sparks
drawn from coal.

What is their brazen goal?

They grab at whatever passes,
so we can only hazard guesses.
But they rear like prancing steeds
raked by brilliant spurs of need,
Young lovers.

The original French poem:

Jeunes amoureux nouveaulx
En la nouvelle saison,
Par les rues, sans raison,
Chevauchent, faisans les saulx.
Et font saillir des carreaulx
Le feu, comme de cherbon,
     Jeunes amoureux nouveaulx.
Je ne sçay se leurs travaulx
Ilz emploient bien ou non,
Mais piqués de l’esperon
Sont autant que leurs chevaulx
     Jeunes amoureux nouveaulx.



Ballade: Oft in My Thought
by Charles d'Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation/modernization by Michael R. Burch

So often in my busy mind I sought,
    Around the advent of the fledgling year,
For something pretty that I really ought
    To give my lady dear;
    But that sweet thought's been wrested from me, clear,
        Since death, alas, has sealed her under clay
    And robbed the world of all that's precious here—
        God keep her soul, I can no better say.

For me to keep my manner and my thought
    Acceptable, as suits my age's hour?
While proving that I never once forgot
    Her worth? It tests my power!
    I serve her now with masses and with prayer;
        For it would be a shame for me to stray
    Far from my faith, when my time's drawing near—
        God keep her soul, I can no better say.

Now earthly profits fail, since all is lost
and the cost of everything became so dear;
Therefore, O Lord, who rules the higher host,
    Take my good deeds, as many as there are,
    And crown her, Lord, above in your bright sphere,
        As heaven's truest maid! And may I say:
    Most good, most fair, most likely to bring cheer—
        God keep her soul, I can no better say.

When I praise her, or hear her praises raised,
I recall how recently she brought me pleasure;
    Then my heart floods like an overflowing bay
And makes me wish to dress for my own bier—
    God keep her soul, I can no better say.



Confession of a Stolen Kiss
by Charles d’Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

My ghostly father, I confess,
First to God and then to you,
That at a window (you know how)
I stole a kiss of great sweetness,
Which was done out of avidness—
But it is done, not undone, now.

My ghostly father, I confess,
First to God and then to you.

But I shall restore it, doubtless,
Again, if it may be that I know how;
And thus to God I make a vow,
And always I ask forgiveness.

My ghostly father, I confess,
First to God and then to you.

Translator note: By "ghostly father" I take Charles d’Orleans to be confessing to a priest. If so, it's ironic that the kiss was "stolen" at a window and the confession is being made at the window of a confession booth. But it also seems possible that Charles could be confessing to his human father, murdered in his youth and now a ghost. There is wicked humor in the poem, as Charles is apparently vowing to keep asking for forgiveness because he intends to keep stealing kisses at every opportunity!

Original Middle English text:

My ghostly fader, I me confess,
First to God and then to you,
That at a window, wot ye how,
I stale a kosse of gret swetness,
Which don was out avisiness
But it is doon, not undoon, now.

My ghostly fader, I me confess,
First to God and then to you.

But I restore it shall, doutless,
Agein, if so be that I mow;
And that to God I make a vow,
And elles I axe foryefness.

My ghostly fader, I me confesse,
First to God and then to you.



In My Imagined Book
by Charles d’Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

In my imagined Book
my heart endeavored to explain
its history of grief, and pain,
illuminated by the tears
that welled to blur those well-loved years
of former happiness's gains,
in my imagined Book.

Alas, where should the reader look
beyond these drops of sweat, their stains,
all the effort & pain it took
& which I recorded night and day
in my imagined Book?

The original French poem:

Dedens mon Livre de Pensee,
J'ay trouvé escripvant mon cueur
La vraye histoire de douleur
De larmes toute enluminee,
En deffassant la tresamée
Ymage de plaisant doulceur,
Dedens mon Livre de Pensee.

Hélas! ou l'a mon cueur trouvee?
Les grosses gouttes de sueur
Lui saillent, de peinne et labeur
Qu'il y prent, et nuit et journee,
Dedens mon Livre de Pensee.



Charles d’Orleans (1394-1465) was a French royal born into an aristocratic family: his grandfather was Charles V of France and his uncle was Charles VI. His father, Louis I, Duke of Orleans, was a patron of poets and artists. The poet Christine de Pizan dedicated poems to his mother, Valentina Visconti. He became the Duke of Orleans at age 13 after his father was murdered by John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy. He was captured at age 21 in the battle of Agincourt and taken to England, where he remained a prisoner for the next quarter century. While imprisoned there he learned English and wrote poetry of a high order in his second language. A master of poetic forms, he wrote primarily ballades, chansons, complaints and rondeaux. He has been called the “father of French lyric poetry” and has also been credited with writing the first Valentine’s Day poem.

Keywords/Tags: France, French, translation, Charles, Orleans, Duke, first Valentine, rondeau, chanson, rondel, roundel, ballade, ballad, lyric, Middle English, Medieval English, rondeaus, rondeaux, rondels, roundels, ballades, ballads, chansons, royal, noble, prisoner, hostage, ransom, mouth, eyes, arms, *******, hands, feet, foot, fetish, obscene, ***, desire, lust, Valentine
CJ Sutherland Feb 2019
No
I do not Like
Valentine’s Day
I WISH
It would Please
Just go AWAY

If you are
Married or in Love
Valentine’s Day
Comes from Cupid
Angels up Above

Deliveries to Work
The Gifts
Of Candy and Flowers
Evening Plans
Romantic Candlelight Dinner
Lasting for Hours
Followed by
Hugs and Kisses
And many
Sweet untold Wishes

However if you Are
Alone or Single
This Day is
An empty Heart
That sadly Tingles

One by One each Co-worker
Receives their Deliveries  
Their glances of Pity
Adds to my Miseries
Their words of Sympathy
Only deepen my Pain
Hoping for
This day to END
Before I go INSANE

A Day
RUBBED
IN MY FACE
Now Bitter Lonely Sadness
Are my
Only Grace

Hurtful memories of
Old verse New
Dinner for ONE
Instead of for TWO

No,
I do not Like
Valentine’s Day
I WISH
It would Please
Just Go AWAY

There was a Time
When I too Received
Many Deliveries
Before the days of Now
And my Miseries  

My Heart my Love
Did no come Home
Nor did HE
Call on the Telephone
No Hash Words
No Fight

I spent Valentine’s Night
Staring out the window
ALONE
His behavior
I don’t
Won’t  
Condone

I Cried
Myself to Sleep
I Thought
Life
Couldn’t be
More Bleak
Wondering is 
THIS my LIFE?
That of
A New young Wife!

He came Home
After a Night
At the BAR
He bought me Flowers
But
Left them in the Car

The next Day
When I AWOKE
Not a Word
between  Us
We SPOKE

Retrieved From
The Car FLOOR
I was SHOCKED
When he Strolled
Through the Door

He brought IN
The Flowers
Putting them
In a Vase
You should Have
SEEN
The look on My
FACE

Two Dozen Beautiful
Long stemmed ROSES
had WILTED
Like OUR Love
Empty and  Jilted

I  Took
A pair of Scissors
From the Drawer  
By the Bed
Cutting the Roses
ONE by ONE
At the Base
of the Bulb
HEAD

Silently
I set Down
The Scissors
Without
Placing Blame
My husband
Said Nothing
Only Hung
His Head
In SHAME

I made it Clear
I never want ROSES
On Valentine’s Day
We NEVER
Spoke of IT
What is the
POINT
Anyway

No
I don't Like
Valentine’s Day
I WISH
It would Please
Just go AWAY
Disputes all this
we have been married since 1985
(2019)  34 years married 36 years together
Aaron LaLux Feb 2018
No Valentine

Happy Valentine’s Day,
so fckn cliche,
no Valentine,
no sublime,
no feelings of ecstasy,

no we just me,

alone,
once again,
faced with my own thoughts,
and the deafening sounds of this silent hotel room,

I’m alone,
and I probably deserve it,
this is likely my proper karma,
the emotional toll paid in full all cash no credit,

the piper being paid,
for every heart I’ve ever slayed,
for every good girl I’ve ever played,
for every time I left when she wanted me to stay,

they were good girls,
they didn’t deserve it,
I was a bad boy,
and didn’t even know it,
I guess the only thing worse than breaking a heart,
is not even realizing that you’re the one that broke it,

she loved me,
most of them did,
and I left most of them,
with scars and sorrowed sentiment,
and I apologize in all honesty,
even though heartbreak was never what I intended,
but breaking a heart is breaking a heart,
no matter whether or not the Breaker even ever meant it,

this is what happens when there’s desire,
but for lasting love their’s no incentive,
like a dozen roses ready to go,
with the postage paid but with no place for the sender to send it,

as this sick cycle signals,
it’s time to either heal this or end it,
as these deep wounds burrow,
this can only be described as deserted and desolate,

chocolate,
hearts,
melt,

in the Sunshine of Time,

thoughts,
of her,
felt,

as they frolic through my mind,

no Valentine,
probably won’t have one,
until I’ve paid in full,
for every good girl I ever left,

so I likely have a few more heartbreaks headed my way,
because I’m not yet done paying off this debt,

and I’ll pay,
and I’ll pay,
and I’ll pay,
I’ll pay until there’s nothing left,

and then,
hopefully,
at that point in time,
I will finally find the girl out there that I know somewhere exists,

the one that’s been doing time like me,
the one who’s broke just as many hearts,
the one who too is paying off her relationship karma,
by repeatedly getting her heart broken apart,

even though we know what they say,
you can’t turn a bad girl good,
but once a good girl goes bad she’s gone,
forever,

whatever,
either way she’s out there,
and even though I’ve never met her,
I know I already love her,

that girl that no longer wants to be a player any more,
I don’t want to be a player anymore I just fck a lot,
no Big Pun intended but everything else I meant it,
writing this Love Letter on Valentine’s day with no where to send it.

Anyways I know that ex-player turned good girl exist,
and she feels just like I do in this exact instant,
she’s somewhere alone paying off her debt,
for all the guy’s who’s hearts she broke even though she never meant it,

and now,
she feels like I do like ditto,
tired of playing the field,
just looking for a solo love that can be true like bingo ,

and one day we’ll meet,
and we’ll probably get married but no kiddos,
because 2’s a company but 3’s a crowd,
and that’s one thing that both of us still know,

that’s why I write this out loud with,
the hopes that she’ll find these words right wherever she is,
and she’ll find me somehow from this love letter,
like a message in a bottle sent from an island and found by a ship,

and when we finally meet it will be love at first kiss,

this,
is what I hope for,
no more promiscuous ***,
nope no way no more,

I’m a born again ******,
holding out until I finally meet that Apple of my eye,
and until then,
I’m not dating anyone no way no how nope no Valentine,

because I don’t deserve one,
won’t until I’ve paid off this debt in full,
for every good girl that I’ve ever left,
still hold no regrets even though I’m lonely as Hell,

so I likely have a few more heartbreaks headed my way,
because I’m not yet done paying off this debt,

and I’ll pay,
and I’ll pay,
and I’ll pay,
I’ll pay until there’s nothing left,

until I’m totally spent,

but until that time I’m alone,
once again,
faced with my own thoughts,
and the deafening sounds of this silent hotel room…

∆ Aaron La Lux ∆

Free download of the new book here: www.scribd.com/document/367036005/The-Sydney-Sessions-12-Steps
Steven Forrester Mar 2012
Valentine
Oh Valentine
Invade my heart
And consume my mind
An effigy
In clarity
A purity
In unity
Take my hand
And walk with me
Close your eyes
What do you see?
Valentine
Oh Valentine
Take hold
Of my sight
When weak
Use my might
For you
I will fight
I find happiness
In your light
I can't deny
I won't ask why
Bliss is written
In the sky
In my mind
You are divine
So invade my heart
And consume my mind
Valentine
Oh Valentine
Dr O Feb 2016
Tell me where you belong
On a day St. Valentine was too young
To even know what love was

Such a love so strong
For you I will wear no mask
But on the first day St. Valentine saw
That all he knew was wrong

Such a heart knows no enemies
And such a smile knows no hate
Such beauty even the Saints do call
As such a girl deserves it all

As with you my love, every day is Valentines
He whispered to her in warm embrace
Let's go away from this place
Away to the land of you and me

The land of me and you
Keeps disappearing when I awake
As today is the day the Saint knew
That he overslept past Valentine's Day

On his day, St. Valentine celebrates with tears
As for him loneliness sought ease
On this day, St. Valentine falls to his knees
Sometimes I think its just him and me

On the last day, St. Valentine celebrates with a gun
As it was he who lost his only one
For she was afraid of love and devotion
Yet only with a bullet is love a potion

She didn't love me enough
To wait until Valentine's day
Instead she shot in my smile
  Before she turned and walked away

They ask St. Valentine why he doesn't smile
And he says its because the clouds are grey
But when my mother asked me I said
I couldn't wake up in time
For Valentine's day
Michael R Burch Feb 2020
Le temps a laissé son manteau ("The season has cast its coat aside")
by Charles d'Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation/modernization by Michael R. Burch

The season has cast its coat aside
of wind and cold and rain,
to dress in embroidered light again:
bright sunlight, fit for a bride!

There isn't a bird or beast astride
that fails to sing this sweet refrain:
"The season has cast its coat aside!"

Now rivers, fountains, springs and tides
dressed in their summer best
with silver beads impressed
in a fine display now glide:
the season has cast its coat aside!



The year lays down his mantle cold
by Charles d'Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation/modernization by Michael R. Burch

The year lays down his mantle cold
of wind, chill rain and bitter air,
and now goes clad in clothes of gold
of smiling suns and seasons fair,
while birds and beasts of wood and fold
now with each cry and song declare:
“The year lays down his mantle cold!”
All brooks, springs, rivers, seaward rolled,
now pleasant summer livery wear
with silver beads embroidered where
the world puts off its raiment old.
The year lays down his mantle cold.



Winter has cast his cloak away
by Charles d'Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation/modernization by Michael R. Burch

Winter has cast his cloak away
of wind and cold and chilling rain
to dress in embroidered light again:
the light of day—bright, festive, gay!
Each bird and beast, without delay,
in its own tongue, sings this refrain:
“Winter has cast his cloak away!”
Brooks, fountains, rivers, streams at play,
wear, with their summer livery,
bright beads of silver jewelry.
All the Earth has a new and fresh display:
Winter has cast his cloak away!

Note: This rondeau was set to music by Debussy in his “Trois chansons de France.”

The original French rondeau:

Le temps a laissé son manteau
De vent, de froidure et de pluie,
Et s’est vêtu de broderie,
De soleil luisant, clair et beau.

Il n’y a bête, ni oiseau
Qu’en son jargon ne chante ou crie :
"Le temps a laissé son manteau."

Rivière, fontaine et ruisseau
Portent en livrée jolie,
Gouttes d’argent d’orfèvrerie,
Chacun s’habille de nouveau :
Le temps a laissé son manteau.



Le Primtemps (“Spring” or “Springtime”)
by Charles d’Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation/modernization by Michael R. Burch

Young lovers,
greeting the spring
fling themselves downhill,
making cobblestones ring
with their wild leaps and arcs,
like ecstatic sparks
drawn from coal.

What is their brazen goal?

They grab at whatever passes,
so we can only hazard guesses.
But they rear like prancing steeds
raked by brilliant spurs of need,
Young lovers.

The original French poem:

Jeunes amoureux nouveaulx
En la nouvelle saison,
Par les rues, sans raison,
Chevauchent, faisans les saulx.
Et font saillir des carreaulx
Le feu, comme de cherbon,
     Jeunes amoureux nouveaulx.
Je ne sçay se leurs travaulx
Ilz emploient bien ou non,
Mais piqués de l’esperon
Sont autant que leurs chevaulx
     Jeunes amoureux nouveaulx.



Ballade: Oft in My Thought
by Charles d'Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation/modernization by Michael R. Burch

So often in my busy mind I sought,
    Around the advent of the fledgling year,
For something pretty that I really ought
    To give my lady dear;
    But that sweet thought's been wrested from me, clear,
        Since death, alas, has sealed her under clay
    And robbed the world of all that's precious here—
        God keep her soul, I can no better say.

For me to keep my manner and my thought
    Acceptable, as suits my age's hour?
While proving that I never once forgot
    Her worth? It tests my power!
    I serve her now with masses and with prayer;
        For it would be a shame for me to stray
    Far from my faith, when my time's drawing near—
        God keep her soul, I can no better say.

Now earthly profits fail, since all is lost
and the cost of everything became so dear;
Therefore, O Lord, who rules the higher host,
    Take my good deeds, as many as there are,
    And crown her, Lord, above in your bright sphere,
        As heaven's truest maid! And may I say:
    Most good, most fair, most likely to bring cheer—
        God keep her soul, I can no better say.

When I praise her, or hear her praises raised,
I recall how recently she brought me pleasure;
    Then my heart floods like an overflowing bay
And makes me wish to dress for my own bier—
    God keep her soul, I can no better say.



Rondel: Your Smiling Mouth
by Charles d'Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation/modernization by Michael R. Burch

Your smiling mouth and laughing eyes, bright gray,
Your ample ******* and slender arms’ twin chains,
Your hands so smooth, each finger straight and plain,
Your little feet—please, what more can I say?

It is my fetish when you’re far away
To muse on these and thus to soothe my pain—
Your smiling mouth and laughing eyes, bright gray,
Your ample ******* and slender arms’ twin chains.

So would I beg you, if I only may,
To see such sights as I before have seen,
Because my fetish pleases me. Obscene?
I’ll be obsessed until my dying day
By your sweet smiling mouth and eyes, bright gray,
Your ample ******* and slender arms’ twin chains!

The original Middle English text:

Rondel: The Smiling Mouth

The smiling mouth and laughing eyen gray
The breastes round and long small armes twain,
The handes smooth, the sides straight and plain,
Your feetes lit —what should I further say?
It is my craft when ye are far away
To muse thereon in stinting of my pain— (stinting=soothing)
The smiling mouth and laughing eyen gray,
The breastes round and long small armes twain.
So would I pray you, if I durst or may,
The sight to see as I have seen,
For why that craft me is most fain, (For why=because/fain=pleasing)
And will be to the hour in which I day—(day=die)
The smiling mouth and laughing eyen gray,
The breastes round and long small armes twain.



Confession of a Stolen Kiss
by Charles d’Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

My ghostly father, I confess,
First to God and then to you,
That at a window (you know how)
I stole a kiss of great sweetness,
Which was done out of avidness—
But it is done, not undone, now.

My ghostly father, I confess,
First to God and then to you.

But I shall restore it, doubtless,
Again, if it may be that I know how;
And thus to God I make a vow,
And always I ask forgiveness.

My ghostly father, I confess,
First to God and then to you.

Translator note: By "ghostly father" I take Charles d’Orleans to be confessing to a priest. If so, it's ironic that the kiss was "stolen" at a window and the confession is being made at the window of a confession booth. But it also seems possible that Charles could be confessing to his human father, murdered in his youth and now a ghost. There is wicked humor in the poem, as Charles is apparently vowing to keep asking for forgiveness because he intends to keep stealing kisses at every opportunity!

Original Middle English text:

My ghostly fader, I me confess,
First to God and then to you,
That at a window, wot ye how,
I stale a kosse of gret swetness,
Which don was out avisiness
But it is doon, not undoon, now.

My ghostly fader, I me confess,
First to God and then to you.

But I restore it shall, doutless,
Agein, if so be that I mow;
And that to God I make a vow,
And elles I axe foryefness.

My ghostly fader, I me confesse,
First to God and then to you.



Charles d’Orleans has been credited with writing the first Valentine card, in the form of a poem for his wife. He wrote the poem in 1415 at age 21, in the first year of his captivity while being held prisoner in the Tower of London after having been captured by the British at the Battle of Agincourt. The Battle of Agincourt was the centerpiece of William Shakespeare’s historical play Henry V, in which Charles appears as a character.

At age 16, Charles had married the 11-year-old Bonne of Armagnac in a political alliance, which explains the age difference he mentions in his poem. (Coincidentally, I share his wife’s birthday, the 19th of February.) Unfortunately, Charles would be held prisoner for a quarter century and would never see his wife again, as she died before he was released.

Why did Charles call his wife “Valentine”? Well, his mother’s name was Valentina Visconti ...

My Very Gentle Valentine
by Charles d’Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

My very gentle Valentine,
Alas, for me you were born too soon,
As I was born too late for you!
May God forgive my jailer
Who has kept me from you this entire year.
I am sick without your love, my dear,
My very gentle Valentine.



In My Imagined Book
by Charles d’Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

In my imagined Book
my heart endeavored to explain
its history of grief, and pain,
illuminated by the tears
that welled to blur those well-loved years
of former happiness's gains,
in my imagined Book.

Alas, where should the reader look
beyond these drops of sweat, their stains,
all the effort & pain it took
& which I recorded night and day
in my imagined Book?

The original French poem:

Dedens mon Livre de Pensee,
J'ay trouvé escripvant mon cueur
La vraye histoire de douleur
De larmes toute enluminee,
En deffassant la tresamée
Ymage de plaisant doulceur,
Dedens mon Livre de Pensee.

Hélas! ou l'a mon cueur trouvee?
Les grosses gouttes de sueur
Lui saillent, de peinne et labeur
Qu'il y prent, et nuit et journee,
Dedens mon Livre de Pensee.



Charles d’Orleans (1394-1465) was a French royal born into an aristocratic family: his grandfather was Charles V of France and his uncle was Charles VI. His father, Louis I, Duke of Orleans, was a patron of poets and artists. The poet Christine de Pizan dedicated poems to his mother, Valentina Visconti. He became the Duke of Orleans at age 13 after his father was murdered by John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy. He was captured at age 21 in the battle of Agincourt and taken to England, where he remained a prisoner for the next quarter century. While imprisoned there he learned English and wrote poetry of a high order in his second language. A master of poetic forms, he wrote primarily ballades, chansons, complaints and rondeaux. He has been called the “father of French lyric poetry” and has also been credited with writing the first Valentine’s Day poem.

Keywords/Tags: France, French, translation, Charles, Orleans, Duke, first Valentine, rondeau, chanson, rondel, roundel, ballade, ballad, lyric, Middle English, Medieval English, rondeaus, rondeaux, rondels, roundels, ballades, ballads, chansons, royal, noble, prisoner, hostage, ransom, season, seasons, winter, cold, snow, rain, summer, light, clothes, embroidered, embroidery, birds, beasts, sing, singing, song, refrain, rivers, springs, brooks, fountains, silver, beads
Michael R Burch Feb 2020
Le Primtemps (“Spring” or “Springtime”)
by Charles d’Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation/modernization by Michael R. Burch

Young lovers,
greeting the spring
fling themselves downhill,
making cobblestones ring
with their wild leaps and arcs,
like ecstatic sparks
drawn from coal.

What is their brazen goal?

They grab at whatever passes,
so we can only hazard guesses.
But they rear like prancing steeds
raked by brilliant spurs of need,
Young lovers.

Original French text:

Jeunes amoureux nouveaulx
En la nouvelle saison,
Par les rues, sans raison,
Chevauchent, faisans les saulx.
Et font saillir des carreaulx
Le feu, comme de cherbon,
     Jeunes amoureux nouveaulx.
Je ne sçay se leurs travaulx
Ilz emploient bien ou non,
Mais piqués de l’esperon
Sont autant que leurs chevaulx
     Jeunes amoureux nouveaulx.



The First Valentine Poem

Charles d’Orleans (1394-1465), a French royal, the grandchild of Charles V, and the Duke of Orleans, has been credited with writing the first Valentine card, in the form of a poem for his wife. Charles wrote the poem in 1415 at age 21, in the first year of his captivity while being held prisoner in the Tower of London after having been captured by the British at the Battle of Agincourt.

My Very Gentle Valentine
by Charles d’Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

My very gentle Valentine,
Alas, for me you were born too soon,
As I was born too late for you!
May God forgive my jailer
Who has kept me from you this entire year.
I am sick without your love, my dear,
My very gentle Valentine.



Ballade: Oft in My Thought
by Charles d'Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation/modernization by Michael R. Burch

So often in my busy mind I sought,
    Around the advent of the fledgling year,
For something pretty that I really ought
    To give my lady dear;
    But that sweet thought's been wrested from me, clear,
        Since death, alas, has sealed her under clay
    And robbed the world of all that's precious here—
        God keep her soul, I can no better say.

For me to keep my manner and my thought
    Acceptable, as suits my age's hour?
While proving that I never once forgot
    Her worth? It tests my power!
    I serve her now with masses and with prayer;
        For it would be a shame for me to stray
    Far from my faith, when my time's drawing near—
        God keep her soul, I can no better say.

Now earthly profits fail, since all is lost
and the cost of everything became so dear;
Therefore, O Lord, who rules the higher host,
    Take my good deeds, as many as there are,
    And crown her, Lord, above in your bright sphere,
        As heaven's truest maid! And may I say:
    Most good, most fair, most likely to bring cheer—
        God keep her soul, I can no better say.

When I praise her, or hear her praises raised,
I recall how recently she brought me pleasure;
    Then my heart floods like an overflowing bay
And makes me wish to dress for my own bier—
    God keep her soul, I can no better say.



Rondel: Your Smiling Mouth
by Charles d'Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation/modernization by Michael R. Burch

Your smiling mouth and laughing eyes, bright gray,
Your ample ******* and slender arms’ twin chains,
Your hands so smooth, each finger straight and plain,
Your little feet—please, what more can I say?

It is my fetish when you’re far away
To muse on these and thus to soothe my pain—
Your smiling mouth and laughing eyes, bright gray,
Your ample ******* and slender arms’ twin chains.

So would I beg you, if I only may,
To see such sights as I before have seen,
Because my fetish pleases me. Obscene?
I’ll be obsessed until my dying day
By your sweet smiling mouth and eyes, bright gray,
Your ample ******* and slender arms’ twin chains!

The original Middle English text:

Rondel: The Smiling Mouth

The smiling mouth and laughing eyen gray
The breastes round and long small armes twain,
The handes smooth, the sides straight and plain,
Your feetes lit —what should I further say?
It is my craft when ye are far away
To muse thereon in stinting of my pain— (stinting=soothing)
The smiling mouth and laughing eyen gray,
The breastes round and long small armes twain.
So would I pray you, if I durst or may,
The sight to see as I have seen,
For why that craft me is most fain, (For why=because/fain=pleasing)
And will be to the hour in which I day—(day=die)
The smiling mouth and laughing eyen gray,
The breastes round and long small armes twain.



Confession of a Stolen Kiss
by Charles d’Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

My ghostly father, I confess,
First to God and then to you,
That at a window (you know how)
I stole a kiss of great sweetness,
Which was done out of avidness—
But it is done, not undone, now.

My ghostly father, I confess,
First to God and then to you.

But I shall restore it, doubtless,
Again, if it may be that I know how;
And thus to God I make a vow,
And always I ask forgiveness.

My ghostly father, I confess,
First to God and then to you.

Translator note: By "ghostly father" I take Charles d’Orleans to be confessing to a priest. If so, it's ironic that the kiss was "stolen" at a window and the confession is being made at the window of a confession booth. But it also seems possible that Charles could be confessing to his human father, murdered in his youth and now a ghost. There is wicked humor in the poem, as Charles is apparently vowing to keep asking for forgiveness because he intends to keep stealing kisses at every opportunity!

Original Middle English text:

My ghostly fader, I me confess,
First to God and then to you,
That at a window, wot ye how,
I stale a kosse of gret swetness,
Which don was out avisiness
But it is doon, not undoon, now.

My ghostly fader, I me confess,
First to God and then to you.

But I restore it shall, doutless,
Agein, if so be that I mow;
And that to God I make a vow,
And elles I axe foryefness.

My ghostly fader, I me confesse,
First to God and then to you.



In My Imagined Book
by Charles d’Orleans (c. 1394-1465)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

In my imagined Book
my heart endeavored to explain
its history of grief, and pain,
illuminated by the tears
that welled to blur those well-loved years
of former happiness's gains,
in my imagined Book.

Alas, where should the reader look
beyond these drops of sweat, their stains,
all the effort & pain it took
& which I recorded night and day
in my imagined Book?

The original French poem:

Dedens mon Livre de Pensee,
J'ay trouvé escripvant mon cueur
La vraye histoire de douleur
De larmes toute enluminee,
En deffassant la tresamée
Ymage de plaisant doulceur,
Dedens mon Livre de Pensee.

Hélas! ou l'a mon cueur trouvee?
Les grosses gouttes de sueur
Lui saillent, de peinne et labeur
Qu'il y prent, et nuit et journee,
Dedens mon Livre de Pensee.



Charles d’Orleans (1394-1465) was a French royal born into an aristocratic family: his grandfather was Charles V of France and his uncle was Charles VI. His father, Louis I, Duke of Orleans, was a patron of poets and artists. The poet Christine de Pizan dedicated poems to his mother, Valentina Visconti. He became the Duke of Orleans at age 13 after his father was murdered by John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy. He was captured at age 21 in the battle of Agincourt and taken to England, where he remained a prisoner for the next quarter century. While imprisoned there he learned English and wrote poetry of a high order in his second language. A master of poetic forms, he wrote primarily ballades, chansons, complaints and rondeaux. He has been called the “father of French lyric poetry” and has also been credited with writing the first Valentine’s Day poem.

Keywords/Tags: France, French, translation, Charles, Orleans, Duke, first Valentine, rondeau, chanson, rondel, roundel, ballade, ballad, lyric, Middle English, Medieval English, rondeaus, rondeaux, rondels, roundels, ballades, ballads, chansons, royal, noble, prisoner, hostage, ransom, Valentine
Why wait until Valentine Day, to show your sincere love?  St. Valentine was our example, he is now gone above.
Why wait until Valentine Day, to pass out your finest gift?  If your loved one needed a ride today, would you give her a lift?
Why wait until  Valentine Day, to deliver roses and flowers?  Today behind closed doors; you are acting mean, and sour.
Why wait until Valentine Day, to go out on a date?  Yet, every night when you come home; we can expect you to be late.
Don't wait until Valentine Day, to show that you're a good man.  Everyday should be a day of love, throughout this evil land.
By, Author & Poet, Sandra Juanita Nailing
on Valentine’s Day he is working on black painting hears knocking at door with rag brushes in hand he asks “who is it?” “it’s Reiko! come on mr. birdfishdog open up” he has grown afraid of her nervously shuffles brushes rag in hand guardedly opens door there stands Reiko Lee Furshe shoulders pulled back arms akimbo black leather jacket black tight jeans black pointed toe boots hair cut extremely short looks like handsome young boy grinning “hi aren’t you going to invite me in? want to **** and ****?” Reiko’s altered appearance suddenness alarm Odysseus "why did you cut your hair Reiko Lee?" she says "it’s my hair and I can do what I want with it i shaved my legs armpits and ***** too want to have a look?" he replies "no no way why? why did you cut your hair?" she says "because i felt like it and because i know how much you love my hairiness Odys i wanted to displease you i’m female again!" she defiantly glares at him he looks away slowly closes door hears her holler “*******!” listens as footsteps race down stairs out building he drops paintbrushes rag rushes to front window looks out watches her saunter away down street until she is gone writes Reiko Valentine poem he will never send

love listens when you speak understands what you think love watches while you sleep love holds back as you leap love lounges while you run frantic love picks your pocket puts you in checkmate love builds nest hatches egg love rips open your chest plucks heart away love is racehorse love is rattlesnake love pretends not to notice while you ******* love swings on gate love visits your grave love impersonates a poet love slits your throat love devours everything leaves crumbs for hate

he receives Valentine card in mail from Mom wonders if ultimately his fate is somehow sorely connected to her what if Mom stands in way of every woman? what if stars lead away from recognition as painter instead steer straight back to Mom? what if each is trial to other as if their souls are entangled in insolvable riddle ancient curse? he drinks himself to sleep

Laius and Jocasta are king and queen of Thebes in ancient Greece they have baby boy oracle prophesies boy will grow up **** father marry mother to nullify prophecy Laius Jocasta decide to **** their son back then it is common to abandon unwanted or damaged baby on mountain for vultures child survives grows to be man he travels gets into fight on road kills stranger who unaware to him is his father King Laius traveler Oedipus goes to Thebes solves Riddle of Sphinx saves city he is made king unknowingly marries his own mother King Laius's widow Queen Jocasta Oedipus rules wisely he and Jocasta have four children eventually Oedipus and Jocasta realize what ******* Oedipus is Jocasta commits suicide Oedipus pokes out his own eyes becomes wandering beggar assisted by daughter Antigone at time of their marriage Oedipus is young naive but Jocasta is middle-aged woman maybe deep down Jocasta knows she is marrying her handsome son it is thrill to sleep with him maybe it is only after Oedipus realizes truth in disgust confronts Jocasta that she is driven to suicide Jocasta cannot live with herself because she has known truth all along and now she is found out Oedipus can live with himself yet he plucks out eyes because he never wants to see truth again

Odysseus continues to work on black painting many weeks pass slowly snowdrifts begin to melt on occasion sun appears in sky Penelope calls to catch up with him says she is in hurry has met really cool guy is falling in love again their conversation is brief he hangs up receiver considers how resilient Penelope’s heart is she seems so much more capable of getting over heartbreaks
Nelize Feb 2017
take*  this  to  heart  my  dear  valentine
'twas  ­never  meant  to  be  foreverly  mine
the  last  petal  fell
your  footprints  left  mine  

a  love   story  told  but  which  I'll  never  tell
hugs  in  mugs  have  now  grown  cold
a  cut  was  made  along  the  grape  vine  
th­is  love  story  that  will  never  be  told

it's  taken  my  heart  my  dear  valentine

win­e  glasses  were  drained  to  my  dearest  valenti­ne
a  sparkling  champagne  celebrated  that  time
sherry  go  round
whisk  it  away
now  cham-pain  drain  these  veins  of  mine
I  could  not  read  between  the  lines  anyway­

time  soothed  this  heart  now,  dear  valentine­
memories  have  spoken
it's  time  to  be  fine

take  this  to  heart  in  the  mean time
a  spirit  once  broken,  but  did  not  di­e
my  bittersweet  wine  now  petals  of  rosé

tim­e's  given  back  my  heart,  *valentine.
CJ Sutherland Sep 2017
If you are married or in love Valentine's Day
Comes from Heaven angels up above
Deliveries to work; are gifts of candy and flowers
evening plans, a romantic candlelight dinner for hours
followed by hugs and endless kisses
many sweet untold wishes

However; if you are alone or single
this day is an empty heart that sadly tingles
Valentine's Day is filled with regret and used-to-be's
one by one your coworker receive their deliveries
thier glances of pity and sympathy deepen your pain
hoping for the Day to end before you go insane

A commercialized day every place, in your face
now lonely bitterness are your grace
hurtful memories of an old world versus new
dinner for one instead of two
No I do not like Valentine's Day
I wish it would please just go away

There was a time when I too received deliveries
before the day of now and my miseries
the man I love did not come home
I spent Valentine's Day staring out the window alone
I cried myself to sleep
I thought life could not be more skin deep

He came home after a night at the bar
he had brought me flowers yet left them in the car
The next day as I awoke
not a word between us we spoke
he put the wilted flowers in a vase
you had to have seen the look on my face

The once beautiful long stem red roses had wilted
like our love empty and jilted
I silently took a pair of scissors without dread
Snipped the Roses one by one at the base of the bulb head
My husband said nothing only shook his head in shame
silently I set the scissors down without placing blame

I have never received flowers to this day
  we never speak  of it, what is the point anyway
Valentine's Day is a day to rub in your face  
now lonely bitterness are my grace
No I do not like Valentine's Day
I wish it would  please just go away
I wrote this 1986 one year after we married the first year was rocky
dennis gunsteen Feb 2011
thy valentine thy love
be thy valentine of thy
heart.
thy sweet love of life.
thy warm beauty
capture mee  soul
so be thy valentine
in thy life.
O'sweet spirit of life
hold me with in your soul
my love.
be thy valentine O'sweet
angel of the moon lit
night.
you are thy spring  water
of life.
so be thy valentine in thy
life my love.
John F McCullagh Feb 2013
She 'll be dressed and ready
right on time
My funny little Valentine.
We'll have pancakes for dinner
but no red wine-
My funny Little Valentine
Her gift didn't come
from a diamond mine
My funny little Valentine
More Precious than gold
is this girl of mine
My Funny Little Valentine...

Happy Valentine's Day,
Daughter
Sasha Ranganath Feb 2018
I have never had a valentine.
Yes, I had that one guy, that one time
But to him, it was just a
A valenti---- don't really love you kinda love.
A valenti---- wish it wasn't you kinda love.
And to me, it was a
Valenti---- really don't think I'm straight kinda love.
Valenti---- am SO uncomfortable, get me outta here kinda love.

I have never had a valentine,
Yes, I had that one girl, that one time,
But we were miles away from each other.
4,483 to be exact.
With her I felt great
For a while
Like a candle
At the end of its life
You can see the waltzing flame meet the quiet of night
Midnight
Should I stay up kinda night
Skype call kinda night
I love you but... I gotta go... kinda night.

I have never had a Valentine
And it's not because he didn't care enough
Or she wasn't close enough.
I've never had a Valentine because I'm either too much or just not enough
I'm insecure, so insecure of the way I talk, the way I walk, the way these two strands of hair stick out, the way this one tooth just doesn't stay in line, the child inside me made entirely of antidepressants and fries, the truths, the lies, the incessant goodbyes.
I've never had a Valentine and I'm lonely
As hell
I'm so lonely I'll fall in love before you blink,
I'll pick you up when you're standing still,
I'll spin you around like I finally made up my mind to do the laundry
I'll kiss you good morning and I'll kiss you goodnight
Tonight
Tomorrow
Maybe forever.
You see this
is my problem.
This passion
This raging forest fire of emotions
This racing broken heart of haunted suspicions.
You aren't perfection
You're my perfection.
In my dictionary, your name is scrawled into the definition of every positive adjective, every beautiful noun, everything that's not a frown.

You see when I imagine my valentine, I see stars in the sky
As cliché as that sounds, I see stars in the sky and her nose perfectly aligning with the moonlight,
Her eyes slightly unsure whether to meet mine
Her lips lightly quivering with her gaze falling on mine
Her fingers slowly inching up to the tips of mine
Her smile faintly turning into a garden of lullabies
The place I go to mourn my goodbyes and watch the sun rise.
When I think of my Valentine,
I hear her laugh turning into a snort, laughing even louder, her cheeks turning red, tears in her eyes.
And I laugh along, falling in love with every crinkle by her eyes, just hoping she's not dying inside.
Just hoping she's not just pretending to love me tonight. Praying she believes we're more than just alright.

I've never had a Valentine,
But I'm hoping
I'm really ******* hoping
Somewhere in this crowd
I might have changed your mind.
Amanda Kay Hill Feb 2017
It is almost
Valentine day
I look up at the sky
And wish you where still here
With me it year is ******* me
Valentine day
Valentine day
You are in heaven and you are
Still here in spirit but I just wish
I can see you and I wish God gives us
More time together because we have
Not dated for long we only have dated
For 1 year and not long enough together
But enough to make awesome memories
Together I will treasure the memories we
Share they will be in my heart I am blessed
To had been your girlfriend you where the
Best boyfriend Nick I am blessed to had
Know you and I remember the day when
I saw you in college I was in the dorm lobby
I say hi my name is Amanda  and you say
Hi my name is Nick I say nice to meet you
And you say you too I just wish I was not
Afraid of asking you if you like me back in
College because if I was not afraid of asking if
You like me and found out you like me the
Same way we will had been dating back in
College but I was scar and did not ask you
If you like me but I remember the day you
Ask me out over facetime on April 23, 2015
You say  " so we have a lot in common do
You want to be my girlfriend" and I say
Yes I will love to be you girlfriend it all
Started with a picture I post on Facebook
You comment on the picture saying 1. I will
date you 2. You are beautiful 3. You are sweet
I was like I have to comment you back and tell
You I feel the same way and we started Facebook
Messenger after I post the picture on Facebook for
5 weeks then we text each other about 8 weeks then
We facetime each other for 6 weeks then April 23,
2015 we started dating and I remember our first
date we went to see Finding Dory and our 2 date
We saw Secret Life Of Pets then we got dinner I also
Remember you cooked me dinned when I was at you
Dad house and before I leave to go back home you give
Me a big hug and I kiss you on top of your head and tell
You I love you so very much on August 19, 2016 and we
Also have our first kiss and last kiss before I went on my
Cruise September 8, 2016  I come back September 17, 2016
And find out that you passed away from a heart attack on
September 14, 2016 at 2:00am when I went to funeral I just
Wish you sit up and come back to life I just can not believe
You are in heaven I miss you so very much I think about you
Everyday and I know I will see you again someday so I hope
You have a wonderful valentine day up in heaven
So happy valentine day in heaven my love
© Amanda Kay Hill
2/10/17
Robin Carretti Feb 2019
Hey, another week whispers love to win "W" That womanly wonder I need to take a step back to "V"  just need to vent out.
I'm here not over there? Medieval times "Roman Festival" of love
I have to catch up to get to V- Valentine things are the sublime wake up take a bite the "Viennese Whirls" biscuit "The Cats Meow"
The Siamese to suit me just fine. The Valentine recruit her day of pursuit. Her lower V back to her higher love loot plays up to her **** and boots.

A victory versus the villain Mama Mia striking gold but I am a face to red like grapes. The Italian Villa making love in her red hot chinchilla. But somewhere over her sheer rainbow, he got sidetracked all the way she looks divine in her "Rosy" slingback chair. Read my lips go smack CD track "V-Valiant" multiplying like ants. She flaunts herself such a venom demonstration. The biblical (V)-sword wins her love sentimental. What aims the bow and arrow a heart is her V village daring. Quite shocking and alarming the poems red silk ties her love force the light shines romantically warm red. V Virtual reality Strawbery Sponge cake.

Her V-Valentine the first day she met him. Where she came from will we ever know? What's in the card do we win or lose to know what in store for you?

You will get to know me 
The sweets got her set
The bittersweets only yet
Plays the different drum
The Valiant V venture
Hum all *** about him
The ricochet "Russian *****"

This is not the end of the alphabet
zoomed in like the Zebra
You got me V for Visa
But Y where did the
( L)_ go we are losing some??
Alphabets 
More victories firelight sunset

Lionhearted heroic I bet
Did you throw me into Lion's den?
Refresh my L- love ******
"O" only roses pink/red sonic
Zippety do day happier
V Day the wine glasses
L-O-V- E Ecstacy

I suppose another tempting
Dose V vitamins
"Valiant Rose" Face
Such velocity
I feel pretty dancing
high castles
   "Valentine"

 Herbivore love me messy
Victorian sleeping beauty
Rose Kiss Hibiscus
Vampire rosebuds
Cherubs ****** red
Red Mercedes
Hubs of love
husbands

For the "Valiant Smart ladies"
High society noses
Pluto-Venus Starwars
V Valentino and their singles
Cappuccino in Italy Portofino
Chic centerfold V candles
Damask Rose pretentious pose

She's the V Voluptuous
Red devil ventriloquist
Pink/Wink Strawberry mousse
The Bulgarian with her cute
Pomeranian and spouse
Elephant Tusk smells
of musk E-love

"Marilyn Monroe" baguettes
Yves The Saint Laurent
So Valiant bond deep
Cut thorns of Reds
Bergdorf Blondes and
Brunettes
Valentine duet V-shape
Headset  vivacious escapes
So mindset
Never forget the one day

February 14 your
Valentine ring
heartedly set
Salute to the cadet
This is the sweet smell of Valentines day or any day that you have plenty of loving your heart will tell you don't lose that feeling be the mindset to take a sip of coffee to melt your heart inside his love words
I HAVE AN UNFORGETTABLE VALENTINE, SHE MAKES ME ALWAYS SMILE.  I LOVE THE WAY SHE WALKS, FOR HER I'LL WALK A MILE.
I HAVE AN UNFORGETTABLE VALENTINE, INSIDE I FEEL SO WARM.  JUST TO BE AROUND HER; I ALWAYS FEEL AT HOME.
I HAVE AN UNFORGETTABLE VALENTINE; I ONLY DO WHAT'S RIGHT.  I ALWAYS WANT TO PLEASE HER, MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT.
I HAVE AN UNFORGETTABLE VALENTINE, AROUND HER YOUR KNEES GROWS WEAK.  THIS IS A SPECIAL LADY, SHE IS VERY UNIQUE.
BY, AUTHOR & POET,  SANDRA JUANITA NAILING
Dennis Oliver Oct 2012
I am just an old dreamer, without a complaint.
Would you take me to your house?  Would you be a saint,
to my hungry and restless old heart,
my hungry and restless old heart?

Might be not much to you, but it keeps me alive,
like a Valentine’s day, and I wonder if I’ve
got some Valentine’s luck when I say
every day should be Valentine’s Day.

Oh, I want you again an again and again
If I’d not be your lover – I’d be a good friend
It’s so simple and plain, and it’s true
I’ve got eyes that can see only you.

We could move to a house with some smoke and a fence-
I can’t bribe you with gifts – please don’t take offence –
I could learn to be pleasing to you.
I could learn to be pleasing to you.

I am just an old dreamer, without a complaint.
Would you take me to your house?  Would you be a saint?
Make today into Valentine’s day.
I’ve a Valentine heart anyway.
Dennis Oliver Oct 2012
I am just an old dreamer, without a complaint.
Would you take me to your house?  Would you be a saint,
to my hungry and restless old heart,
my hungry and restless old heart?

Might be not much to you, but it keeps me alive,
like a Valentine’s day, and I wonder if I’ve
got some Valentine’s luck when I say
every day should be Valentine’s Day.

Oh, I want you again an again and again
If I’d not be your lover – I’d be a good friend
It’s so simple and plain, and it’s true
I’ve got eyes that can see only you.

We could move to a house with some smoke and a fence-
I can’t bribe you with gifts – please don’t take offence –
I could learn to be pleasing to you.
I could learn to be pleasing to you.

I am just an old dreamer, without a complaint.
Would you take me to your house?  Would you be a saint?
Make today into Valentine’s day.
I’ve a Valentine heart anyway.
J H Webb Mar 2014
(an old poem that she never got to hear)*

Marry me on Valentine's
with the snow still on the ground
when the air of the year is still so fresh
that each breath falls sparkling down

Marry me on Valentine's
and dance me through the years
Fill me with your open heart
and whisper me your fears

We can grow old together
losing our figures and hair
while we try to decide
whether to talk or just stare

Marry me on Valentine's
and stay with me all of your life
I'd be at my very best
with someone like you as my wife

Marry me on Valentine's
When the air is fresh and clear
Marry me on Valentine's
It's the best time of the year

James H. Webb
CJ Sutherland Feb 2018
If you are married or in love
Valentine’s Day comes from Cupid, angles up above
Deliveries to work are gifts of candy and flowers
Evening plans, a romantic candlelit dinner for hours
Followed by hugs and endless kisses
And Many sweet untold wishes

However if you are alone or single
This day is an empty heart that sadly tingles
One by One the coworkers receive their deliveries
Their glances of pity added to my miseries
Their words of sympathy only deepened the pain  
Hoping for the day to end before I go insane

A day rubbed in my face
Now lonely bitterness and sadness are my grace
Hurtful memories of Old verse New
Dinner for One instead of Two
No, I do not like Valentine’s Day
I wish it would Please, just go away

There was a time when I too received deliveries
Before the days of now and my miseries
The man I loved did not come home
I spent Valentine’s Day starring out the window alone
I cried myself to sleep and thought,Life
could not be more bleak, for a new young wife

He came home after a night at the bar
He had bought flowers yet left them in the car
The next day when I awoke
Not a word between us, we spoke

The dozen once beautiful long stemmed roses had wilted
Like our love empty and jilted
I silently took a pair of scissors from the drawer by the bed
Cutting the roses One by One at the base of the bulb head
My husband said nothing only shook his head in shame
Silently, I set down the scissors without placing blame

I made it clear I never want roses on this day
We never spoke of it, what is the point anyway
Valentine’s Day is a memory rubbed in my face
Now lonely bitterness and sadness are my grace
No, I do not like Valentine’s Day
I wish it would Please, just go away
However 36 years today
We are still together to my mismay
Going to the bar with the guys for just one drink are famous last words when you are a newly married man of course I didn’t know were he was the was his story
Hal Loyd Denton Feb 2013
Earthen Valentine


See where love is divined

Fly a kite on Cape Hatterious as you move among shadows in the wood follow the deer it’s a perfect guide to the gentle heart you
Posses with brightest red blanket throw it out ward let it flow gently down on a grassy field it too lights the way to valentine
Encounters or stand on the platform of a subway let the silver cars flash by like a slide show at high speed as you look at the windows
Envision your heart’s desire seated within speeding into the dark tunnel the inky black where you pull out memories that are white as
Orchids and have a delicate nature that draws from you tender lingering thoughts that can bring mist to your eyes from sadness
Touched evoked by a flashing scene that you remember that was cherished now it holds a pang regrets like a great cluster of fruit
In those by gone times what acute lines they drew they characterized their true meaning others didn’t care to take the time to know
Those in that way but you found it all satisfying when eyes engage others with a piercing lens that looks up and out of the heart loves
Joy bells ring and you are given to singing carefree paths you stroll down with a certain someone the sun breaks forth with special
Ray’s two hearts beat so powerfully intoxication occurs time and space is lost you unknowingly have taken a divergent course that is
Simply grand funny how another’s touch the holding of a hand can effect earths reality and usher you in to a place of wonder if it could
Be outwardly recorded I guess it would sound like distant gentle thunder sight is afforded lovers that others never find or notice the
Natural world holds sweet refrains that spill from shaded glens or shadows that walk side by side in the brightest sun light oh to fix
Your compass only to these climes at least at this special honoring of those who love and are loved these are just shared thoughts for
You to feel and experience on Valentine’s Day this is a little of what I see in your lives that are so richly blessed I’m not forgetting those
Who have lost loves to me it is outwardly sad but inwardly I know love never dies just close your eyes and inwardly a glowing will
Occur whoever is missed is available through love’s undeniable portal it happened it doesn’t have to defy logic it was it always is if you
Ever told someone you loved them you if you were truthful you always will their might be impregnable material in this natural world
But love burns and penetrates other worlds its felt only as soft as a wisp of wind but if you hold it pursue it at its end there you will
Find your special valentine living their hearts and minds touching you examining you in finest detail and they aren’t limited as you by
Earth bound restraints breathe deeply a romantic breeze seeks only your heart lips and eyes and in the best sense it is mind blowing.
Hal Loyd Denton Jan 2012
Earthen Valentine

Fly a kite on Cape Hatterious as you move among shadows in the wood follow the deer it’s a perfect guide to the gentle heart you
Posses with brightest red blanket throw it out ward let it flow gently down on a grassy field it too lights the way to valentine
Encounters or stand on the platform of a subway let the silver cars flash by like a slide show at high speed as you look at the windows
Envision your heart’s desire seated within speeding into the dark tunnel the inky black where you pull out memories that are white as
Orchids and have a delicate nature that draws from you tender lingering thoughts that can bring mist to your eyes from sadness
Touched evoked by a flashing scene that you remember that was cherished now it holds a pang regrets like a great cluster of fruit
In those by gone times what acute lines they drew they characterized their true meaning others didn’t care to take the time to know
Those in that way but you found it all satisfying when eyes engage others with a piercing lens that looks up and out of the heart loves
Joy bells ring and you are given to singing carefree paths you stroll down with a certain someone the sun breaks forth with special
Ray’s two hearts beat so powerfully intoxication occurs time and space is lost you unknowingly have taken a divergent course that is
Simply grand funny how another’s touch the holding of a hand can effect earths reality and usher you in to a place of wonder if it could
Be outwardly recorded I guess it would sound like distant gentle thunder sight is afforded lovers that others never find or notice the
Natural world holds sweet refrains that spill from shaded glens or shadows that walk side by side in the brightest sun light oh to fix
Your compass only to these climes at least at this special honoring of those who love and are loved these are just shared thoughts for
You to feel and experience on Valentine’s Day this is a little of what I see in your lives that are so richly blessed I’m not forgetting those
Who have lost loves to me it is outwardly sad but inwardly I know love never dies just close your eyes and inwardly a glowing will
Occur whoever is missed is available through love’s undeniable portal it happened it doesn’t have to defy logic it was it always is if you
Ever told someone you loved them you if you were truthful you always will their might be impregnable material in this natural world
But love burns and penetrates other worlds its felt only as soft as a wisp of wind but if you hold it pursue it at its end there you will
Find your special valentine living their hearts and minds touching you examining you in finest detail and they aren’t limited as you by
Earth bound restraints breathe deeply a romantic breeze seeks only your heart lips and eyes and in the best sense it is mind blowing.
Dead Rose One Feb 2015
8:00 am plenty of time to get

tinder-ed
it's how people meet

no worries here,
tinder-ed tendered thundered
by 9:00
I'll be fine,
possibilities multiple, soul flayed,
body at risk, hookup sweet,
no problem,
will line up a few,
on the hour,
star power,
no heart, but
candy is dandy
when you need a date
on Valentine night
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://blogs.wsj.com/personal-technology/2015/02/13/dating-heats-up-as-valentines-day-approaches/?mod=WSJhpssections_lifestyle
About Tinder

We connect people through fun experiences.
Tinder is the fun way to connect with new and interesting people around you. Swipe right to like or left to pass. If someone likes you back, it’s a match! Chat with a match or snap a photo to share a Moment with all of your matches at once. Moment is a new way to express yourself and share with friends.

— The End —