This Valentines Day Mom
In lieu of penny cards and cartoon hearts and scribbles for the girls in class
I give pews and prayers, psalms and songs
hymned
thoughts
of you
as we kneel and stand and kneel again
by rote
but not
this time
.
For this Valentines Day Mom
a visit’s miss of vibrant flowered kisses and Cadbury hugs
I introduce you new neighbors
with stoic, staid flowers
instead
in a tall-stoned village on a hill
taller for the tall stones of stories chiseled name’s memories
through a winter’s quiet breezed thought
around words from a book and a sash
of Greg Torggler, Max Rubenstein (“Ruby” to his friends?)
Nancy Benedict Sirko and Theresa (“T” maybe?)
Joan and James and Gail
to hold you (“Linny”, Dad would gush)
close
as neighbors should
.
For this Valentines Day Mom
No phone call to check on the mail
did it arrive
with personal notes and jokes
and a picture of a cat
folded in Hallmarked thoughts
writ with pen’s messy flourish
often the second or third drafted card bought
to flourish just right
but
I give
you
that one special penny card
that one special cartooned heart
held
brought home from class
scribbled “Mom” just for you
For this Valentine’s Day
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