honoring 2 hearts

 
I've never been entirely comfortable with traditionally romantic gestures
even when I was emotionally invested

a bouquet brings me sadness
as they arrive already dying
wilting on their severed stems

dinner for two in a fancy restaurant
makes me feel like I'm in a spotlight
more than a little awkward

I love you
...means no more on any given day
...than it does on the next
just be sure if you feel it...
...it's already been said

but there are 2 traditions I partake in
only meaningful to me
on February 14th I spend my evening alone
a bowl of New York Vanilla ice cream
with fresh cut strawberries
accompanied by a bottle of chilled Moscato

...the first to celebrate a hero
...the second to honor my beautiful heart

grandpa was a valentine's baby
one of the greatest men I ever knew
that ice cream was his weakness
one could almost say his kryptonite

he taught me to love from the most pure place
showed me that a gift worth receiving
comes from none other than...

me
my compassion...
my emotion...
my giving nature...

as an homage to him
& his lifelong lessons...
I indulge in his favored dessert

...my favorite drink is to honor me
& how far I've come
on this one occasion I indulge myself fully
sipping from my goblet
until the bottle drips nothing

just as I was taught the value of loving
pouring my all into whatever I give
the beauty of me unshared...
...is wasted
every drop from my heart
should be tasted

I'm not easy to love
a lot of jagged edges from past fractures
but that doesn't matter
because it's only important
...how I give
& let me tell you this...

my love as intoxicating as this drink
...undiluted...
at full strength

so cheers to grandpa
& to loving without restraint