LOVE POEMS A MIST OF MEMORIES I sat for endless hours That evening At the Santa Lucia Station Waiting for him to arrive Yearning to reignite The flame Of unquenchable desire Which began Twenty years ago While riding a gondola Along the Grand Canal In Venice Eating pasta On the balcony Of an Italian villa Watching Carmen At the Verona amphitheater Strolling the bustling streets Of Rome Touring ancient ruins At the Colosseum and Panthenon And waltzing by the moonlit bank Of the Riveria Finally, he appears Like a misty shadow In the cool night air The way he did back then First, touching my heart Then a piece of my soul He whisks me away Into a romantic wonderland Where time stands still And love dawns anew. ABIDING LOVE My whole body is enveloped by the softness of your kiss The radiant smile placed across your face Your chocolate heart eyes simply melt my heart Like the showering of a candy land rainbow Your silky brown hair as it tickles against my cheek And your strong arms embrace me when I am weak The touch of your tender hand The way you always understand Thoughtful and caring Never too daring You know what I need And how to succeed You lend an ear to listen Making me laugh when I feel like crying You're my faithful companion Who will never abandon Our abiding love that we've shared All through the years, I shall never let you go I will always love you so, In body, soul, and spirit. FATHER'S FOOTPRINTS What can I say about a man Who exemplifies the model of fatherhood? A man who possesses admirable traits beyond measure: Loving and compassionate Caring and patient Generous and humble Strong and unwavering Optimistic and happy go lucky Friendly and funny Energetic and adventurous Intelligent and industrious Loyal and sincere Respectable and wise. As I look back upon the years I remember countless shared moments From adolescence to adulthood: Whether it was being an Indian Princess father Flying a homemade kite or competing in the balsa derby races. Lending a helping hand with challenging math and science homework Or figuring out my taxes and finances. Setting up the porch with haunted creatures And spooky music on Halloween night Dressing up in a scary costume And ghoulishly greeting the neighborhood children with tricks or treats. Rising early to cook and carve the Thanksgiving turkey. Happily putting up the Christmas tree And stringing copious strands of lights, tinsel and ornaments. Arduously building a little girl's dollhouse in time for Christmas Day Dressing up in a red Santa Suit Merrily handing out fireplace stockings and Christmas tree presents. Hiding colored eggs and candy-filled baskets Around the house on Easter morning. Grilling steaks and hamburgers for backyard picnics Contentedly planting spring flowers or raking autumn leaves Celebrating birthdays with singing, cake, and a gala of gifts. Howling during rip-roaring comedies Or sitting on the edge of your seat During suspense thrillers and Survivor episodes. Traveling together on fun-filled family vacations Swimming in the pool or playfully bouncing in the ocean waves Taking me out for a day of shopping or restaurant dining Patiently teaching me to ride a bicycle or drive a car Watching me graduate from high school and college Providing me with an excellent academic education. During life's trials and struggles, you lovingly protected and comforted me And cheered me on in my joys and triumphs. Through everything we share together You always continue to love, nurture and support me. I am so thankful to have you in my life And could not be more proud to call you my father For all that you do and the remarkable man you represent. FROZEN PASSIONS Muddled memories Randomly flashing In a mind of harbored indifference Flashing bits and pieces Of a life that once mattered A fastened heart That no longer pulsates with zeal A vision that no longer sees Past the perimeter of possibility Instinctive desires Which have no place for pleasure Accumulated knowledge That has proven to be futile An ambitious appetite That has lost its zest A frigid soul That no longer feels The warmth of a happy existence. LINGERINGS OF LOVE Right from the very start, There was always a special place for you in my heart On the first day that we met I knew you would not be one that I'd soon forget Your dreamy brown eyes gaze deeply into mine As you lean close, our lips are intertwined For our love sustains life's rips and creases Our souls fit together like puzzle pieces You murmur words of devoted adoration And recite verses of love's celebration Always in my sight and forever on my mind You are a ray of light who's never hard to find Love embraces us wherever we are Like the constant sparkle of a heavenly star Midnight stroll through St. Honorine's Park Etchings of love engraved on tree bark Cuddled by the fireplace on frigid winter nights Running along summer's seashore Flying our heart-shaped kites When we reach our final destination We shall eternally savor one another's lingering sensation We are linked together as soul mates For love never waits But continues to last with each spiritual breath During life and especially after death. LOVE'S HARMONY We ride the tides of love Like the soaring wings of a dove Sometimes we gracefully land Like seashells washing up on the sand Other times we fall like a drop of a ball We are caught like a ship in the storm When changes take form Not able to discern which way to turn Only when we are tossed to and fro Do we decide to take hold of our woe: It's either black or white, fight or flight If we can weather things out, Then we'll eliminate any doubt Of what our love is all about. If our hearts are open wide Then our passion won't divide For I know our love is true It can only renew With each passing year of "I Do" You are my shining star Who never lingers far You always keep me safe at bay No matter what comes our way What we have sown is truly sublime It is one of a kind Forever mine, you'll always be I know you will agree That our love is a perfect harmony. MINT OF A MAN Death cannot erase the magical moments we have built Even the ones that caused us grief and guilt We shared not only our lifetime goals But revealed the passionate yearnings of our inner souls There was never a doubt in my mind that you were the man to marry You shouldered burdens that no one else could carry People entered and exited our daily lives But you always remained as faithful as the morning sunrise Our children obtained values and morals from a nurturing father While others could not find the time to bother When the puppy's tail got caught in the car door You rushed him to the vet to alleviate his excruciating soar If Sarah got stumped on a math problem You would help her figure it out using a logical system When Josh finished building a model airplane You accompanied him to the airfield Watching him control its aerial flight in the teeming rain When we had our matrimonial squabbles You never ended the day with harsh words or bloodcurdling yells But lovingly blanketed me with forgiveness and understanding And quickly released the dispute like a baby starling You accepted me whether I came from poverty or wealth And took extra care of me in sickness and in health You believed in my strengths and abilities And did not mock me for my weaknesses and calamities You comforted me in life’s darkest hours And celebrated memorable moments with sweets and flowers Though our golden years have given us grizzled hair and furrowed lines We shall continue to look beautiful in our youthful minds I would not trade you for an instant For you are a rare mint. PORTRAIT OF A MOTHER A mother is one who is always there Through thick and thin. On sunny and gloomy days During moments of happiness and sorrow Hope and uncertainty She never ceases to demonstrate The maternal love she was born to give Through her generous and humble acts. Whether it's a warm embrace A radiant smile Kind and gentle words Or offering a listening ear No matter how small or great their needs become, A mother continues to care for her family. Even as the children grow older And go their separate ways She never stops showing compassion and concern. Looking out for their best interests Always walking beside them To offer advice and encouragement Wisdom and patience Throughout life's circumstances and challenges. Flowing with abundant love and gentleness Courage and strength Understanding and integrity Joy and laughter. A mother is the selfless person We all admire And desire to be. In honor of every woman who is a mother. We celebrate your special presence this very Mother's Day!