It’s February 14, when almost anyone can be a yenta, and instigate (or insinuate) love or romance virtually anywhere. The New York Times even has a touching Valentine story about a dad’s search for the children he’s never met. ”Sperm donor father ends his anonymity” (NYT, Feb. 14, 2007; see shlep)
Browsing the brand new editions of two fine haiku journals — Bottle Rockets #16 (Vol. 8, no. 2) and Frogpond XXX:1 (Feb. 2007) — I discovered today that many of the poems by f/k/a‘s Honored Guest Poets made me think of Valentines past, present and future. Here are my gleanings:
leaves turned to gold —
he still know all the words
to that old love song
. . . by billie wilson – frogpond XXX:1
that apple?
i’d of eaten it
all by myself
. . . . by Ed Markowski – Bottle Rockets #16
Easter morning
the lawn strewn
with pastel condoms
Day of Atonement
the pink morning glories
open wide
. . . . . . by pamela miller ness – Bottle Rockets #16
strained tendon
the physician’s assistant
mentions my age
cheap motel the time of our lives
. . . . by tom painting “strained tendon” – Bottle Rockets #16
“cheap motel” – frogpond XXX:1
cloudless horizon —
the dead end street
has a big turn around
Mom’s voice on the phone —
time of the year
for a surprise frost
. . . . by gary hotham
“cloudless horizon — Bottle Rockets #16
“Mom’s voice” – frogpond XXX:1
cloudy water
in the bud vase —
children grown and gone
. . . . by alice frampton
frogpond XXX:1
today too,
chestnut flowers litter the path —
my wasted words
summer sky
my sketch of a linden leaf
larger than it really is
. . . . by paul m. – Bottle Rockets #16
moonrise
the soft hum
of the dishwasher
dandelions
some gold, some silver
summer breeze
white sun
the lifeless finch
fits my palm
. . . . by carolyn hall – Bottle Rockets #16
old friends talk
each holding
car keys
. . . . by tom clausen – frogpond XXX:1
Bonus Bouquet: 
Valentine’s Day
a heart stuck back on
last year’s card
they say when gorse
is not in flower
kissing’s not in season
and here before the thaw
i find our winter love
. . . . by matt morden – “Valentine’s Day” – Morden Haiku (Feb. 14, 2007) “they say when goose” – tanka from Morden Haiku (Feb 12, 2007)
valentine’s day
the sensous curves
of a snow drift
. . . . . by ed markowski
Valentine’s Day
she reminds me
to fasten my seatbelt
. . . . by michael dylan welch dylan welch
HSA Brady Contest; a glimpse of red: RMA 2000
he comes to bed
cleanshaven . . .
winter stars
good morning kiss
wing beats
of the hummingbird
. . . . by peggy lyles – “good morning kiss” – to hear the rain
“he comes to bed” – Loose Change (HSA Mem Anthology 2005)
it’s sealed —
the Valentine card
she never sent
. . . . by dagosan
bingo boards empty–
another widow intercepts
the old man’s wink
Heimliched out of me
pink candy heart
wordless now
. . . . by Randy Brooks from School’s Out
from Mom’s to Dad’s
the clickity-clack
of suitcase wheels
. . . . by alice frampton – New Resonance 3: Emerging Voices (2003)
late night rain —
he reads to me from the book
I read to him
. . . . . . . . by billie wilson Mayfly #40 (2005)
letting her
walk all over me
ladybug
. . . by Tom Clausen – being there (Swamp Press, 2005)