Valentines

Two years ago I was completely smitten when I casually picked-up a book, Valentines, on a lovely display shelf in the bookstore in Pacific Grove, California. Most all holidays are wonderful, but Valentine's Day captivates me more than some others -- just because it's candies, jewelry, fragrances, and hearts. It's about love.

Then I opened the cover and begin to read the jacket flap, "For Valentine's Day 1986, Ted Kooser wrote 'Pocket Poem' and sent the tender thoughtful composition to fifty women friends, starting an annual tradition that would persist for the next twenty-one years. Printed on postcards, the poems were mailed to a list of recipients that eventually grew to more than 2,500 women all over the United States. 'Valentines' collects Kooser's twenty-two years of Valentine's Day Poems, complemented with illustrations by Robert Hanna and a new poem appearing for the first time."

It continues, "Kooser's Valentine poems encompass all the facets of the holiday: the traditional hearts and candy, the brilliance and purity of love, the quiet beauty of friendship, and the bitter-sweetness of longing. Some of the poems use the word valentine, others do not, but there is never any doubt as to the purpose of Kooser's creations."

After reading that description, I knew I couldn't leave the bookstore without this little book. I bought it right then and there. Every February I caress its smooth cover and the not as smooth paper pages and sigh deeply at the thought that someone would send me a poem, a valentine, unique and creatively written.

This is the third Valentine season that I have owned this little book, and reading the author's note in the front of the book is still amazing--that by the time 22 years had passed, his mailing list had grown to twenty-six hundred names of women who had requested to be on his mailing list, women who had come to his public readings and signed-up to receive his annual Valentine. Kooser explains that the last poem in the book written in 2008 was for his wife Kathleen. He also reports that he had her permission to mail them every year.

This little book is a favorite. The next few days I'll give some snippets from it. If anyone wants to write me a Valentine poem, I'd be smitten!

Good night from Southern California.
Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol