*Romantic Poetry*

{Where Will I Be} {Confirmation} {Sonnet XVIII} {Eternity}

{Recall} {When I say...} {Love} {Vases}

{Distance} {Crimson Rose} {Winter Heart's Hope}

{Love's Risk} {Sweet Enchanter} {Sonnet XLIII} {Ode}

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Where will I be

  Where will I be when you need me,
  Where will I be tell me where I will be,
  When you are alone on the dark street at night,
  When you are awake full of anguish & fright,
  When a loved one has gone to a land far away,
  When you need a soft touch & to hear,"It's o.k."
  Where will I be when you need me,
  Where will I be tell me where I will be,
  When stars look like planets as you gaze at the sky,
  And your dreams are so sad, they bring tears to your eyes,
  When the winter comes around & the snow starts to fall,
  Everything is so white & the trees stand so tall,
  That you need someone to hold you close by,
  And as you dwell on these thoughts, you start to cry.
  Where will I be when you need me,
  Where will I be tell me where I will be,
  When problems arise and you need to talk,
  When you all you need is a friend & a leisurely walk,
  When new worries enter your mind & won't part,
  When you really need me I'll be in your heart.
  There will I be when you need me,
  There will I be, That's where I will be.
  I'll be there to comfort when your heart is weak,
  I'll be there when troubles & sorrows you meet,
  When inward pain tears at you- you can know,
  I live in your heart & I'll strengthen your soul.
  There will I be when you need me,
  There will I be, That's where I will be.

                        --Bart Alan Wilbanks

CONFIRMATION OF LOVE

  did you know that god above
  created you for me to love?
  he picked you out from all the rest
  because he knew I would love you best.

  I had a heart and it was true
  but now it's gone from me to you.
  take care of it as I have done
  for you have two and I have none.

  if I go to heaven and you are not there
  I will wait for you because I care.
  if you are not there by judgement day
  I know you have gone the other way.

  I will give the angels back their wings
  their golden hearts and other things.
  and just to show you what I would do
  I would go to HELL...
                  ...just for you.

                        --Rick Powless

Sonnet XVIII

  Shall I compare thee to a summer's  day ?
       Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
  Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
       And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
  Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, 
       And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
  And every fair from fair sometime declines,
       By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed;
  But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
       Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest,
  Nor death shall brag thou wanderest in his shade,
       When in eternal lines to time thou growest;
        So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
        So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

                         ~William Shakespeare

Eternity

I asked you to come with me
I told you that the best was yet to be

I promised forever to protect you
I swore forever I would be true

I held you when you were sad
I offered my understanding when you were mad

I gave all that I had 
Loved both good and bad

Then one desperate night I needed you
And though you said you'd never leave, you did

Still I loved through the bitterness
My love never growing less

I prayed that my love you would learn
I prayed that you would return

Now I look around for one
And see again... I stand all alone
                   ~Kat Collins

~Untitled~

I smile whenever I recall 

The special moments we have had; 

Walking always hand in hand 

Through the good times and the bad. 

Sometimes, I think it is a dream -- 

The love you give me could not be; 

But then when you are in my arms 

There's no mistake in its purity. 

Whether I'm with you or far away, 

My thoughts are always drawn to you 

Like a compass needle pointing North 

To a love much more than true. 

Of all the people on this Earth -- 

How lucky can a person be; 

To have found the likes of you, my love, 

With whom to share eternity! 
                   ~Unknown

-When I Say I love You...

I say the words "I love you" so much
that I wonder sometimes if you take for
granted the feeling that is behind them.

I never want you to see them as just words
to begin or end a conversation.
"I love you" is just the way of saying
that you have touched a place in my heart
and made me come alive.

You claimed a part of my heart that,
no matter what happens to us,
will always belong to you.

You taught me how to love.
You broke through all my defenses
and comforted my fears.

You touched places in me
I never knew I had and made me feel
things I never thought I'd feel.

You have all of the patience, care,
understanding and concern needed to
build the kind of relationship we have.

So when I say "I love you", the words
are not spoken out of habit.

It is my way of saying thank you for
being you and of returning some
of the joy you have given me.
           ~Arletha Miles

Love

I love you,
Not only for what you are,
But for what I am
When I am with you.

I love you,
Not only for what
You have made of yourself,
But for what
You are making of me.

I love you
For the part of me
That you bring out;
I love you
For putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over
All the foolish, weak things
That you can't help
Dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out
Into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find.

I love you because you
Are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern
But a temple;
Out of the works
Of my every day
Not a reproach
But a song.

I love you
Because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done
To make make me good,
And more than any fate
Could have done
To make me happy.

You have done it
Without a touch.
Without a word,
Without a sign.
You have done it
By being yourself.
Perhaps that is what
Being a friend means,
After all.
~Roy Croft

Vases

Two vases stood on the Shelf on Life;
As Love came by to look,
One was of priceless cloisonn,
The other of solid common clay.
Which do you think Love took?

He took them both from the Shelf of Life,
He took them both with a smile;
He clasped them both with his finger tips,
And touched them both with caressing lips,
And held them both for a while.

From tired hands Love let them fall,
And never a word was spoken.
One was of priceless cloisonn,
The other of solid common clay.
Which do you think was broken?
~Nan Terrell Reed

Distance

he trembles as her hand touches his face
the light from a million stars reaches for him
through her eyes
which reflect all the infinite beauty of nature

through her eyes
he sees to her fragile heart
and love
which he sends to her
as he places his hand upon her cheek

love makes the weak become strong
makes the dull winter morning
a splendor of natural beauty
love turns savage beast to gentle fawn
and guides the blind
through the bristled paths of life

her touch makes him forget the world
takes him back to days of simplicity
of innocence
and nothing remains but love

he kisses her delicate hand
her heart sighs
and a tear forms in the corner of her eye
and she awakes from her reverie

she opens her eyes
slowly reluctantly
reaches out and takes the framed picture
running her finger over the glass
remembering his face
for she cannot see it through her tears

and then she feels it
feels his touch as if he were there
hears his voice as clear as ever
she turns
but she is alone

she reaches out to him
whereever he may be now
and she knows that he feels her
her same delicate touch on his hand
and her ethereal voice

and he knows she is there
and she feels his thoughts touching her
and they hold each other
across endless miles of land and sea
they hold each other once again

for love
knows no boundaries
~Ravi Gadad

Crimson Rose

Dewdrops fall upon its rosy petals
A crimson gift from nature abounding
Plucked by my hand, risen to my lips
a kiss transposed, the fragrance permeates my senses
To you my love, I offer this rose, this moment in time
As a culmination of the love and affection growing
inside me

This symbol of love manifests as desire for your heart
in return for mine, for you know you may have it
with my blessing

Contentment flourishes inside, like a river of tranquility
rushing through my veins, cleansing, healing my very soul.
I am envious of all who surround you,
for they see you in the morning light,
and take for granted the beauty you embody
Your beauty flows as warmth & caring, as want & desire
Take this rose & store it near your heart,
for when you are feeling empty of spirit,
it will bring you memories of moments we have spent together

I have to only close my eyes to feel you near my lips again
The warmth & gentle squeeze of your hand in mine
The aroma of your perfume, still fresh in my mind
How I wish I could hold you now & wake in your arms
So far away, but only a matter of time
before we will be together again.

For now, this rose will be our guiding light
A symbol of my love
The flame of passion within it will burn for a million lifetimes
Once the last petal drops & it bows its weary head
I shall reach to the earth & pluck you a fresh one, my love
So we may continue our journey in time together

A Winter Heart's Hope

On this snowy winter evening
On this beautifully pristine night
Wrapped in the memories of your embrace
I feel a part of everything around me
And a longing to be held by you
To see snowflakes drift into your hair
The winter moon's glow caress your cheek
And find myself dreaming of seasons to come
A winter heart filling with such great hope
For the newness of love
Amid spring's bright flowers
The glow of the warm summer sun on our skin
Long walks & laughter in the crisp autumn air.

On this snowy winter evening
I know you won't be with me
And find myself wanting to know you are safe
Comforted & secure, if not in my arms,
And happy & warm in your memories of me.
We touched & my heart isn't empty or sad
And somewhere deep inside I know
My heart has never been so full
So warmed by memories of fiery desire
And thoughts of all we've yet to explore.

On this snowy winter evening
I feel my heart racing to yours
Across the space & distance between us
To join our souls, which have always known
But just recently, formally, met each other.
And as I return to the warmth of my home
I feel blessed by memories-crystal clear-
Of lingering kisses, long embraces
And the warmth of the fire we come to share.
I am filled with a wonder that I've never known
That causes my spirit to soar & dance
And brings hope once more to this winter heart.

Love's Risk

There is a risk involved in everything
Everytime you share a smile
Everytime you shed a tear
You are opening yourself up to hurt.

Some people tread slowly through life,
Avoiding the closeness risk brings,
Side-stepping the things they can't understand
Turning away from those who care too much-
Those who care stay too long,
Those who hold too tightly.

There is never an easy way to love 
You can not approach it cautiously
It will not wait for you to arm yourself.
It does not care if you turn away
It is everywhere, it is everything.

Love is the greatest of all risks.
It is not reliable, it is not cautious,
It is not sympathetic
It is unprejudiced and unmerciliess.
It strikes the strongest of mind,
And brings them to their knees in one blow.

Even in the best of times, love hurts.
It hurts to need, it hurts to belong,
It hurts to be the other part of someone else,
Without either of your consent.
But, from the moment it overtakes you,
It hurts worse to be all alone.

The risk of love never depletes;
It grows stronger and more dangerous with time.
But, it's in the total surrender of all defense,
That we, no matter weak or strong,
No matter willing or captive,
No matter what, we truly experience love.

Despite the many things love is not, 
Outweighing it all are the things that love is.
Love is surrender without a loss.
It is a gift without the cost.
It consumes your every thought & desire,
Every breath you take.
It is the fire that fuels you 
To do more than pass through life;
It urges you, instead, to live.

No matter the outcome, having felt love, 
You will never be the same.
It may scar your heart & soul
And Leave you only memories of forever.
Or, it may cause every day of your life 
To feel like there is no need for tomorrow.
But, love is worth it. It is worth the risk...
For in all of life, 
Love is truly the only risk worth taking.
                                ~Kris Hydmore

The Sweet Enchanter

Love is like the burning candle,
Kindled by two hearts;
Hearts that find their fullness,
In oneness.

Hearts that are bound 
By the golden threads of love,
Are hearts that are inseparable;
Pining for each other in separation.

Love illuminates the way ahead of you,
Rendering true worth
To every moment of your life;
Imparting warmth 
In the chilly winter of your life.

Love is the sun that melts the snow,
To reveal the beauty
Of the snow-clad mountains;
Love is the rock that smashes the shell,
To reveal the precious pearl that lies within.
                         ~Murli Menon

Sonnet XLIII, From The Portuguese

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 
I love thee to the depth & breadth & height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and Ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun & candleight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, & with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,
-I love thee with the breadth,
Smiles,tears,of all my life!
-And, if God choose,
I shall love thee better after death.
               (Elizabeth Barrett Browning)

Ode

At her fair hands how have I grace entreated,
With prayers oft repeated,
Yet still my love is thwarted:
Heart,let her go,for she'll not be converted.
           Say,shall she go?
	   Oh! no,no,no,no,no.
She is most fair,though she be marble hearted.

How often have my sighs declared mine anguish,
Wherein I daily languish,
Yet doth she still procure it:
Heart,let her go,for I cannot endure it.
	  Say,shall she go?
	  Oh!no,no,no,no,no.
She gave the wound,And she alone must cure it.

The trickling tears,that down my cheeks have flowed,
My love have often showed;
Yet still unkind I prove her:
Heart, let her go, for nought I do can move her.
	  Say,shall she go?
	  Oh!no,no,no,no,no.
Though me she hate,I cannot choose but love her.

But shall I still a true affection owe her,
Which prayers,sighs,tears do show her;
And shall she still disdain me?
Heart, let her go, if they no grace can gain me.
	  Say,shall she go?
	  Oh!no,no,no,no,no.
She made me hers,and hers she will retain me.

But if the love that hath,& still doth burn me,
No love at length return me,
Out of my thoughts I'll set her:
Heart, let her go,Oh heart,I pray thee let her.
	  Say,shall she go?
	  Oh!no,no,no,no,no.
Fixed in the heart,how can the heart forget her?

But if I weep & sigh,& often wail me,
Till tears, sighs, prayers fail me,
Shall yet my love persever?
Heart, let her go,if she will right thee never.
	  Say,shall she go?
	  Oh!no,no,no,no,no.
Tears, sighs, prayers fail,but true love lasteth ever.
                            ~Walter Davison

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