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| Valentine's Day card, circa 1910 |
DISCLAIMER: This post is not for children. Particularly if you are
my children, I promise you
WILL be grossed out, so
stop reading here.
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Happy Valentine's Day!
Back when I was single, Valentine's Day rarely lived up to expectations. What, for me, was a day to be dreaded, mocked, or secretly fantasized about, I realize now, should never have been taken so seriously. That is, unless you happen to have a fetish for pagan party life.
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Lupercalia Festival, Artist Unknown
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From
NationalGeographic.com:
"The lovers' holiday traces its roots to raucous annual Roman festivals
where men stripped naked, grabbed goat- or dog-skin whips, and spanked
young maidens in hopes of increasing their fertility," said classics
professor Noel Lenski of the
University of Colorado at Boulder."
Whoa. Bet you didn't know that! And if you're into that kind of thing... ? Well, I don't need to know, thanks anyway.
Nowadays, Valentine's Day is driven less by whips, and more by retailers, but I still would like to support the heart, if not the history, of the occasion. I prefer to think of this day as being set aside to express our appreciation for
all the special ones in our lives... not just the ones who bring home flowers and chocolate. This can be done simply with a hug, a kiss, a note, a few extra minutes, a rub behind the ears, or maybe just a "thank you" that we didn't forget to say.
That's why, for today's Five for Friday party, I would like to thank the whole Poetry Friday community by sharing kisses-- smooches and smacks, pecks and puckers, snuggles and squeezes. Think of it as a spin-the-bottle block party! To join in, please describe a kiss of any kind by using five words or less (plus title if you like) and leave it in the comments. I will then move them here so we can all enjoy the Valentine amour together.
I also hope you will show Linda Baie some love for hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup. You can find her at
TeacherDance.
BABY'S FIRST KISS
butterfly's
touch
softly
lingers
WHEN-YOU'RE-SICK-KISS
cool rain
on fever-drenched
forehead
-Irene Latham,
Live Your Poem
Your heartbeat
against my cheek.
-Doraine Bennett,
Dori Reads
Grandson,
hand on face
waves to me,
grins-
blowing a kiss!
-Linda Baie,
TeacherDance
(Yes, I'm letting her get away with 5 lines instead of 5 words. Wouldn't you?)
YOURS:
minty, soft, tender, loving
-George Heidenrich
MINE:
hungry, eager a little tongue --
-George Heidenrich
MEMORY OF A FIRST KISS
Behind school
he hummed,
smooched.
-Buffy Silverman,
Buffy's Blog
she butts my head
with hers
feline affection
-Liz,
Elizabeth Steinglass: poet
2ND GRADE LOVERS, 1972
I get in line in front
of Leo and his 'fro.
On the stairs the class pauses.
I tip my head back as far
as it will go. Leo
drops a juicy kiss
right between my eyebrows.
We continue to the Music room
where we sing
"The child is black;
the child is white..."
-Heidi Mordhorst,
my juicy little universe
(For this, I will give her all the lines and words she needs!)
CAT KISS
Instant
laugh
bonus
facial
exfoliation.
-Diane Mayr,
Random Noodling
Scene...
Argument...
Must not kiss....
-Larry Zelig Nehring
TALL/SHORT SMOOCH
Standing
On
Steps
Is
Easier
-Keri Collins Lewis,
Keri Recommends
BEARABLE
furry snout
berry breath
growl
-Mr. Cornelius,
Jama's Alphabet Soup
Your
soul's breath
resting upon mine.
-Myra Garces Bacsal,
Gathering Books
FIRST KISS
Lips part
chewing his
gum.
-Bridget Magee,
wee words for wee ones
CHOCOLATE KISSES
I melt
as our
lips meet.
-Catherine,
Reading to the Core
YOUR KISS
lingers
in
my
memory
-Mary Lee Hahn,
A Year of Reading
Eskimo,
Butterfly -
No lips
Kisses!
-Donna Smith,
Mainely Write
FIRST KISS
Head
on
shoulder
till
he
gets
the
hint.
-Carmela Martino,
Teaching Authors
ETERNAL KISS
tearful
last moment
forever goodbye
-Cathy Mere,
Merely Day By Day
