Welcome to February. Thanks to St. Valentine, February invites us to think about love.  February also inspires poets.  No, not February (hardly anybody is inspired by February), love inspires poets. And as a poet I feel inspired this February to write some love poems.  Do Not panic — this won’t be red rose or blue violet poetry, no saccharine verses here — my aim is to go a little deeper.  I’m hoping in the writing to be reminded to love with a heart more open to give and to receive.  It was a poet (and a prophet) who told us to beat our swords into plowshares, who called us to reason together and reminded us that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. I’m feeling in need these days of good words — words to heal and help and give hope.

I’ve also invited some friends to join me in the writing.  Love cannot be experienced in isolation, it is something we share and grow into together.  We are changed, helped, healed by each other.  Community, even in this writing project seems essential.  There won’t be posts everyday; I’m not even sure how much there will be, but if it inspires you, respond, reflect, contribute, to the blog if you’d like, but in your daily life too, let love lead you.

Take time
twenty-eight days
restoring love’s reserves
so you have enough and then some
to give

Let’s see what happens,
Laurel