It was just a simple valentine, a red and purple heart,
cut out and pasted lovingly, one day in children’s art.
The message written carefully said simply ‘I love you’
in childish, block letters of crayola midnight blue.
The rough and crooked edges had been tattered more with time
and the old construction paper bore small prints in yellow grime.
There were water marks and creases where the card had once been bent
and the fold had thinned throughout the years till, now, the card was rent.
I had long forgotten making it, a grown man, now, was I.
But the sight of that old valentine, somehow, just made me cry.
You see, that childish valentine, she’d kept for all this while,
became a precious treasure, for my mom, that made her smile.
All the nurses at the nursing home had seen it many times
when she held in in her weathered hand and even said sometimes
she would read the simple sentiment, then sigh, and simply say
“I’m sure he’s really busy but he’ll visit me some day.”
Then one day turned to another and somewhere two decades past
as she waited at the nursing home for visits till at last
her broken heart quit beating and my mother finally died,
alone there in that empty room with no one by her side.
It was tucked in her belongings that simple, worn out card;
a memory of more pleasant times when I had more regard
for the things that are important - for friends and family -
so, now, this tattered valentine will always serve to be
a stark, sincere reminder that my life is far too fleeting
to spend it making money when all the while I’m cheating
my wife, my kids, my brothers - and I swear I’ll change tonight.
I won’t pass up another chance to make things turn out right.
So, mother if your watching, this memory I’ll impart -
of you, my childhood valentine, forever in my heart.
Author notes
Black ribbon: Mourning, Red ribbon: Love, and Yellow ribbon: Rememberance.
Time waits for no one so we need to learn to love and appreciate our family while they are still living so as to not regret what we missed once they are gone.
In a list
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 14 of 14
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Outstanding
This is a sad, poignant poem that speaks from the heart. Your words touched a chord with me. I liked how you managed to end the poem in a positive way and I loved the way you made the old, scrunched up Valentine the central theme in the poem. This is full of soul-searching, trying to make sense of losing a loved one which isn't easy to do. A well-written and sensitive poem full of depth.
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Well Done!
I love seeing rhyme here. This reads aloud very naturally, and carries a very important message. I felt myself respond as both of the central characters,
with every possibility that the poem will actually affect my future actions.
What more can a reader ask?
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<333333333333333
LOVEEE.
you have an amazing talent.
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Lovely story
All to common place and is all to sad.
Lost my mother to ALS ten years ago. Flew home once a month while she was sick.
Jim
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You made me cry
This is a truly beautiful poem, with a story we all, sadly, know and live. Things that we should have done, but were too late to do. very well written!
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GRAND
I couldn't hardly get through this fine write without tearing up, for I have so many of these same hearts. I am 48, and have some of my dad's, who passes away in 1977, my kid's, 27 and 21, my grandaughter's, who is six. It brings on such emotion for me. I loveeeeeeee it!
keep on penning!
sorry, no applause jobbies left.
POETDONTKNOWIT
PS, maybe you could read one of mine called Grann's Vase, if ya have the time! -
Heartwarming
A touching story with some good imagery and a nice rhyme scheme. I wish I was as good as rhyming as you.
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Wow. This made me want to cry!! I work at a nursing home and I've seen some of these people waiting for their family, reading letters and notes over and over again. I've seen them cry. It's so sad. You don't realize how big of an impact something so small can have. It's amazing.
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Wonderful poem, so true how we get all caught up and forget the important things, this brought a tear to my eye as I felt the sadness and regret through your words.
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Ho Ruth, I bet this will hit home in a few hearts when they read this. The dreaded words "if only" come to my mind. Although I think the sentiment is cliched I like this poem and will probably read it again and again, May I wish you good luck in the contest. Val
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Excellent
This was amazingly excellent. I loved this poem. The way the words just flowed and the story behind it. It was awesome. Excellent work!
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Lovely poem!
Great job on this one, Ruth. Excellent message and rhyme. Well done.
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very nice
very nice write for the prompt . . sentiment is heartfelt . . liked "her broken heart quit beating and my mother finally died" and "of you, my childhood valentine, forever in my heart" . . good luck in the contest
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Awwwwwwwwwwwwww
I Love it
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