Unbuttoned ~

“If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
'I love her for her smile ... her look ... her way
Of speaking gently, ... for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day'
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,
--and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. "
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

poem in its entirety

here

(a little click will enlarge)
the how

of love spoken

here
*  *  *
as Valentine's Day
(February 14)
approaches I am reminded
that it may have begun
as a liturgical celebration
to honor those Christian saints
 who had been martyred
rather than a day for romanticized love
accompanied by the giving of
 candy, flowers, and cards

love lived well requires sacrifice
the unbuttoning of hearts and sleeves
for those we know and for those we don't know
*  *  *
chocolates and flowers
never hurt of course
!  !  !
a brief

and somewhat

controversial history

 here