Honeyed Dawns, Sweet With the Bees’ Labor

Some musings on romance, plus a poem

Photo by Han Chenxu on Unsplash

In honor of Valentine’s Day this week, I have been rereading a handful of attempts I have made at romantic poetry over the years. I’ve long done my best to romanticize my daily life in ways large and small (preferring family hand-me-downs instead of brand new box store items, using the good china for a cup of tea on a regular Tuesday, wearing the beautiful dress around my apartment, taking picnics in the warmer months), but for some reason, writing about the idea of classic romance has always felt a little awkward to me.

Perhaps it’s a notion that there is more than enough written about love (why add to the din?), or maybe it’s a deep seated fear that I’m quite far from a classic romantic heroine (a belief that likely began in middle school, as many deep seated fears and insecurities often do), and that composing romantic poetry would throw that kind of terror into sharp, somewhat embarrassing relief. Whatever the reason I shy away from such poetic displays of romantic love, it’s almost become an unspoken rule of my writing to let love lie - far from my pen, at least.

Alas, creativity (and seeking out concrete ways to expand my circle of comfort) encourages me to take risks and try new things. In that spirit, I’m sharing a few excerpts from my take on a romantic poem, titled Plein Air, from the most recent collection, Take Me to the Thin Places, with you all, below. As I said, I usually don’t write poetry about romantic love, but after last summer’s delightful binging of all the romance series and films (My Lady Jane, Bridgerton, Persuasion, Outlander, Heartstopper) that streaming services had to offer, I thought I’d give it a try.

I got such kind feedback from folks about the downloadable poetic images I’ve created in the past, so I thought I’d make you some more images that you can download, save, and share as you like!

In addition, I’m sharing the full poem below the images for paid members - I hope you enjoy!

No matter how you celebrate Valentine’s Day (or not) with lovers, friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, furry friends, or kindred spirits in the form of writers and artists across the centuries who speak to your soul, I hope you feel a small but steady fire in your heart, keeping you warm during this particularly trying stretch of winter, when snow blankets the ground and spring is still a dream away.

We all need love, in all its forms; no one form is any less divine or vital than another.

How we ever have too much love, or give enough to one another, to the earth? You are so loved; I hope you can feel it.