“The Dove” kicks off a third series of poetry for The Flummoxed. The first series is my 2020 Valentines poems, “Seven Days of Valentines,” the second my series of poems for Christmas 2020, “Songs for Christmas.” Much like my first two series, this one, “7 Days of Valentines Poems,” will consist of one poem per day accompanied by an open access work of art from the National Gallery of Art, all in honor of Valentine’s Day and the love in our lives.

“The Dove” is a Shakespearean sonnet, though somewhat loose in meter, feet, and rhyme.

“The Dove”

 The Dove of Love flies always through my heart,
 Declaring loves I have for humankind.
 Her flutterings all vary by who's caught
 And not by whom I think-love in my mind.
 You, dear, are the first girl I have seen
 Whom Dove did choose for our forever love,
 With passion in which marriage long has been,
 Like love God shows to all us from above.
 Your character flows truer than your beauty,
 Though beauty showers ‘round you like a star;
 Your poise of faith and feeling pleasantly
 Show you worth observing from afar.
 Oh, hear Dove whisper silently to us,
 “Love binds you; ever bind yourselves. You must!”