For my family’s Valentine’s Day
I thought I’d make a bouquet
showing our German ancestry
as they crossed the sea.
They departed from Bremen
to seek a new land’s safe haven
on the Sovereign Ship Leipzig:
a two funnel/two mast rig.
In “stearage” the small family came,
Just five with misspelled Geerdts name;
One suitcase each as they came ashore
under Fort McHenry’s watch in Baltimore.
With little more than their love, hope and trust
they paved the way. Happy Valentine’s to us!
He asked to be her/
Valentine: White t-shirt with/
red barbeque stains.
She never knew: Down/
the alley was a guy who/
had no guts to ask.
Tho she doesn’t like/
haiku, she might enjoy this,/
knowing who it’s for.
Is a compliment/
kind if it is true? Do we/
speak nice when honest?
I’m wondering if/
someone wants to help me fill/
out my family tree.
She would send me photos/
of tall SoCal tropical trees/
silhouetted in the red sunset;/
dancing in the warm sea breeze.
As if to entice me/
to visit and to stay./
To warm my feet in the sand/
and watch the palm trees sway.
I returned the photo favor/
of a frigid, streaming sunrise:/
A frosted cottonwood silhouetted/
against cold blue mountain skies.
T’was not to tempt her, nor to say I was coldly sad,/
but to remind her to be grateful for the warm beauty she had.
She, dressed in red, said: /
“Save me a dance!” I forgot,/
lost my romance chance.
She didn’t want to dance,
but the tamale took a chance.
Needing to wash her hair,
she met a burrito who didn’t care.
It was just a boogie, not romance.
She was set to leave,/
to wash her hair. One more dance/
with me; then she could.