So of course we must have love poems. Instead of looking for famous pieces (wonderful as they may be) I thought it was time to feature some treasures from our own community.
And who in our community writes the most romantic verses? That’s an easy answer! I’m sure we all agree that, in their very different ways, Robin (Old Egg) and Sanaa consistently do that. And what a nice balance it is between the two of them, as not only are they poets of completely different styles and approaches, they are also opposites in both age and gender. Nevertheless, they have a genuine appreciation of each other’s writing (I can tell by the comments they leave on each other’s blogs) – as the rest of us do for both.
Each of them frequently lifts my heart with their latest romantic poems. And each is prolific – how could I choose only one poem from either?
Well, I didn’t, lol – I chose two: a short one and a longer piece from each. You may recall reading them before, but I think they repay a re-read. Many thanks to Robin and Sanaa for giving me permission to use them.
Poems by Robin Kimber, from his blog Robin’s Nest
I looked through Robin’s various verse tales – of love lost or love requited, of domestic bliss or teenage crushes, autobiographical or fictional or a mixture of the two – and settled on the following as being especially appropriate for Valentine’s Day because they are both so sweetly romantic, with equal parts of love and (gently suggested) passion. And they tell of happy love, which I think is the right mood for Valentine’s Day.
Here he writes of young love, idyllic and carefree:
My girl's eyes always light up
When we go for a walk in the meadow
If the buttercups are in bloom, she smiles
Then she will lay down with them
They grin back at her
The bees buzz and fly away
While the Sun hides behind a cloud
They all know I will kiss her
She sighs, but I know that she is happy
Ahhh! I'm sighing too. And also in response to the next one, which tells of a young man whose ‘roving eye’ finally settles on The One, with that classic culmination which romantics dream of.
Rose Claire
I rose up one morning
With my eyes full of glee
So thought I'd take a walk
To see what I could see
Do forgive me sweet girls
I have a roving eye
Sat in a rose garden
To see what I could spy
I took some old breadcrumbs
To feed the birds down there
And they came pretty soon
Plus girl with raven hair
Not long before we talked
Her name was Rose Claire
She loved that birds came close
Pecking crumbs without care
"Rose" I asked, she looked up
Her eyes shone beautifully
I rose up then kneeled down
"Please with you marry me?"
Her soft hand touched my cheek
Fingers close to my lips
I kissed them while I could
Those sensuous fingertips
Poems by Sanaa Rizvi, who blogs at A Dash of Sunny
The two I've chosen by Sanaa were actually posted to her blog on past Valentine’s Days. She’s the lover of lush words and sensual metaphors, often in free verse.
Memoir (au fait)
I lie awake as night after night passes me
by, bathed in shadow of dreary moonlight.
Sweep not these streets of covet and pain,
fear not tales buried beneath. Tender, is
the ghost of lover long gone, leaving abaft
memories subtle as rose-colored smoke ―
That one, rejoicing in beautiful memories rather than present fulfilment, is a perfect poem for my personal Valentine’s Day. Although I don’t have a romantic partner now, I’m glad I can look back whenever I choose, in happy reminiscence, as the narrator of this poem does.
And here is one of the sensual pieces at which Sanaa excels, full of swoon-making, highly original imagery. It too comes to what I think is a perfect conclusion.
The Kisser’s Handbook
A tribute response to Joseph Legaspi’s poem, ‘The Kisser’s Handbook.’
Invigorating and intense is love.
A kiss that hints at butterscotch, caramel,
and tuberose fragrance.
I find I am unable to read your lips
unless
they are caressing mine,
as whisper, as promise,
and a sigh followed by consummation.
A kiss is more personal
more private than sharing a secret
it’s a bond that blossoms between two people
a thought
muddled by cologne, macadamia nuts
and strawberries.
If rushed it’s probably awkward and first,
as emotions overwhelm and take charge of the senses,
if delicate, a kiss is playful
almost teasing
as raindrops that pour and tickle flower buds
and foliage.
A kiss dances in the corridors of memory,
makes one blush
as hours pass away as though they are nothing.
When lingering upon shy lower lip,
I am a cloud
willing to embrace the setting sun
when urgent
I seek to travel to collarbone, from decade
to decade
and from dusk till dawn.
Because I am the shore
that ocean longs to meet,
ours is a parable timeless,
a love song whose words are from the scripture.
A kiss
is a conversation you have when all else fails.
I hope you all enjoyed this touch of romance! Aren't we lucky to be able to enjoy the writings of these two romantic poets so often? And don't they always touch our hearts and lift our spirits?
I wish you lots of lovely love and/or happy memories on Valentine’s Day.
Material shared in this post is presented for study and review. Poems, photos, and other writings and images remain the property of the copyright owners, usually the authors. The photos of Robin and Sanaa are used with their permission, as are their poems. The picture of the hearts is a piece of free clip art.
