A flame in two cupped hands

 

You don't need flowers or chocolate today. I never say no to either (lilies, sweet peas, roses, thanks very much. The darker the chocolate, the deeper my love.)

What is required are the right words. If you can't find them, seek help in literary gods.

Variations on the word Sleep

I would like to watch you sleeping,
which may not happen.
I would like to watch you,
sleeping. I would like to sleep
with you, to enter
your sleep as its smooth dark wave
slides over my head

and walk with you through that lucent
wavering forest of bluegreen leaves
with its watery sun & three moons
towards the cave where you must descend,
towards your worst fear

I would like to give you the silver
branch, the small white flower, the one
word that will protect you
from the grief at the center
of your dream, from the grief
at the center I would like to follow
you up the long stairway
again & become
the boat that would row you back
carefully, a flame
in two cupped hands
to where your body lies
beside me, and as you enter
it as easily as breathing in

I would like to be the air
that inhabits you for a moment
only. I would like to be that unnoticed

& that necessary. 

Margaret Atwood

If sharing a wordsmith is not within reach today, there remains film which gives us heroic and sloppy and goofy and sexy and breathless and slay me! love...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Related posts: 

on poetry: 

                  We were all children once 

 

                   Seeds    

                   I need brave thoughts