Each mid February my daffodils start to bloom.
The sun shines warmer as the days grow longer.
And as sure as Groundhog Day passes
with his doubtful forecast,
the heavy duty Valentine merchants start
the hard sell to young hearts!
Candy, flowers and diamonds, must reminders
of young love.
Crooners tell of broken hearts
and love lost and found,
first kiss and moonlit sighs.
Honeymoons and champagne,
for those who look too young to drink.
Television is alive with youngsters
breathing heavily .
Courtly love is everywhere
for the young.
For- sure love is sold as being
for the very young.
Even the older young are flamed,
with a rejuvenation and young forever promise
and all that implies.
For the very old there are Valentine ads
for scooters and Aleve.
The old heart is never seen
as a romantic heart.
Show me an ad that even hints
of octogenarian romance.
Maybe a hint of memories
from old swing music piece.
Stay at home,
read a book,
peer at pictures of grandchildren,
share symptoms and complain about the young.
Now what a dismal picture.
Sure, champagne upsets the stomach
and candy is not on the can-have list.
But romance? Come now, be real!
But not too fast, merchant folks!
We were tutored in romance
the gentle way by Charles Boyer,
the hearty by Humphrey Bogart,
how to be encouraged by Rita Hayward
and how to fantasize by Walter Mitty.
Then we had 65 years to practice.
So if you want to learn what to say,
what to do,
what songs to play,
the flowers to select,
how to be truly romantic,
ask a well-taught expert
with many years of experience.
For true romance is in the heart,
not on the calendar.