Valentine Sonata

Valentine Sonata 1995

I spent the day in paper chaos

searching for the perfect card.

Striving for that phrase immortal

to impress you like a bard.

My mind was tumbling with verses

Roses Are Red, or I Love You Because,

But nothing seemed to fit you perfect;

So unique—You grant me pause.

I could not be expected to find

A card to express what’s on my mind.

It seemed so hopeless. I felt despair.

At once I thought, “Get lingerererr!”

I rebuked myself, “Concede defeat?”

Not me! You know, I’ve such conceit!

A thought then struck. “A poem attempt.

I’ll write to express the evident!”

I struggled and suffered the lines to rhyme,

but was suddenly, rudely reminded, “The time!”

The children were starved. Dr. Seuss had ended.

The dinner uncooked, the laundry resplendent.

The moment was lost; could not be recaptured.

My desolation complete; you would not be enraptured.

When suddenly, wonderfully, it came so inspired!

Personally, to angels, my life must be wired.

A revelation! An answer! A thought so sincere!

I’ll just resurrect the card you gave me from last year!