As much as I hate Mother’s Day, my own birthday, I hate Valentine’s Day more. To be completely honest, it is because these holidays set up expectations despite my resistance and I inevitably am disappointed. I am a Cancer so my natural reaction is to set up walls around myself when these days come around. Call me passive aggressive if you wish but the defense mechanism has been keeping me sane for years. If I don’t acknowledge it, it ceases to exist and cannot hurt me.
I am not giving anybody any Valentine and therefore I am not expecting any. I am however going to see Die Hard 5. I am genuinely psyched. Can’t explain why. Yippe-ki–
I do however want to talk to you about love poems. Don’t fret. I am not going sentimental on you. I found a gem and want to share it with you. I guarantee it will make you smile especially if you hate Valentine’s Day as much as I do. Thank you so much. Oh, you are so welcome.
I Feel Horrible. She Doesn’t by Richard Brautigan
I feel horrible. She doesn’t
love me and I wander around
the house like a sewing machine
that’s just finished sewing
a turd to a garbage can lid.
The Taxi by Amy Lowell
When I go away from you
The world beats dead
Like a slackened drum.
I call out for you against the jutted stars
And shout into the ridges of the wind.
Streets coming fast,
One after the other,
Wedge you away from me,
And the lamps of the city prick my eyes
So that I can no longer see your face.
Why should I leave you,
To wound myself upon the sharp edges of the night?
I hate Valentine’s Day. I hate the expectations for couples, I hate the implied rejection of singles, I hate that kids are made to celebrate it in school.
I hate Mother’s Day way more, as you know.
But Valentine’s Day is dumb, commercial, and gross.
Ready for it? So is poetry.
With a few glorious exceptions.
Naptimewriting recently posted…Plan of Attack
It’s created such dramas in my teenager’s life. High school is difficult enough without this added artificial stress.
Oh, I’m sorry you don’t like Valentines Day.
I think it is a fun way to spread more love in the winter.
Who doesn’t like love??? : )
Hope your movie was awesome.
I know your shoes will be : )
Life with Kaishon recently posted…a little love story for Valentines Day
Ha. I am just a sour puss…. bahambug.
Well you know how I feel (perhaps my being also Cancerous has something to do with it) about the whole “holiday.” And while my mantra is usually Sara Teasdale’s I Shall Not Care (below) on this day of daze, I have to say, I rather love the sewn turds.
I Shall Not Care
WHEN I am dead and over me bright April
Shakes out her rain-drenched hair,
Though you should lean above me broken-hearted,
I shall not care.
I shall have peace, as leafy trees are peaceful 5
When rain bends down the bough;
And I shall be more silent and cold-hearted
Than you are now.
“Sewn turds” LOL.
Wow. Love that poem by Teasdale. Thank you! The one by her that I knew and love is “I Would Live In Your Love”:
I would live in your love as the sea-grasses live in the sea,
Borne up by each wave as it passes, drawn down by each wave that recedes;
I would empty my soul of the dreams that have gathered in me,
I would beat with your heart as it beats, I would follow your soul as it leads.
I’m a cold, cynical crone and I love the I Shall Not Care more than the drowning and empty I Would Live in Your Love.
Thanks, Micael!
Naptimewriting recently posted…Plan of Attack
Love the Amy Lowell poem. I find that the best Valentines Days I ever had were the ones where I was heartbroken, and wallowing in self pity, red wine, and M&M’s.
Tom G. (@20prospect) recently posted…Fini
I will agree with you on the best V days. I love wallowing in legitimate sadness on V day in hind sight.