Happy Valentine's Day!

[monsoonmaiden]

Happy Valentine's Day. This is still one of my ultimate favorites.

XVII

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations that propagates fire.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you simply, without problems or pride;
so I love you this way because I know no other way

of loving you than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.