Eloise Greenfield’s (1978) Honey, I Love is an oldie but a goodie. It includes many short poems but “Love Don’t Mean” is by far my favourite from this small yet powerful collection, probably for its simplicity.
Love don’t mean all that kissing
Like on television
Love means Daddy
Saying keep your mama company
till I get back
And me doing it
Now You Try: In 8 lines or less, write your own love don’t mean poem.
I wrote this one by hand on paper at the breakfast diner this morning. Poetry flows out of me through my hand and moving pen…the ink on the paper is meaningful and freeing. I loved writing this poem! And, as you can see, I wrote more than 8 lines…I filled the pages for 15 minutes of writing and thinking time. No wicket from a word well today. Except, maybe, the word love.
Here is it…easier to read:
Love don’t mean
falling
into oblivion
it means strengthening
my arms to catch you
it means lifting you up so you
can walk your fine walk
Love don’t mean
being blinded by the lust
it means looking at
the words on your skin
it means reading your story
telling it back to you
making revisions together
Love don’t mean
a sparkling clean house
it means leave the dishes and the dust
it means the stories are
in the beautiful messes
Love don’t mean
anger heavy sleeps
it means up all night
with the tears and the stars
figuring out the reasons
Love don’t mean
loads of money
it means taking care with
intelligence generosity and care
it means spending for the
betterment of all
Love don’t mean
work till you dry up
it means keeping the dreams
soaked with passion and patience
so our souls stay ripe with life
Love don’t mean
the truth don’t hurt
it means lies have no place
in this home
it means mistakes are as
constant and real as the sun
Love don’t mean
we lose our selves
it means we join forces so our lungs
breathe deeper
it means practice makes the
heart grow fonder
Love don’t mean
forgiveness is a foreigner
it means the doors is open
the flood gates too
it means unconditional
all the time
Love don’t mean
the dancing should stop
it means each surface is a dance floor
it means this my body
moving to our song
*************
I’m actually really proud of this one! I’ll put it in my new poetry manuscript.
Thank you Rebecca! My heart is lifted.
(Hi Irene!)
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And…I found photos of my Nonna’s hands – and the ring that I’d like to have on my houseboat as one of my keepsakes.
My hand over hers…see the beautiful ring…that’s a red ruby!
