My Valentine for the World

My Valentine For The World

If I could

paint a red heart on the sky

for

France, for all the wounded in the world

those who have lost love, those who

hate

not realizing how strong it is to

be a lover

for those who stand outside

and watch

waiting for their chance to

be seen

and heard and loved, the

children

the youth marching for their

losses

the girls who never have been

told

“you are beautiful”

the boys who wanted to be pretty,

I would craft one like a sunset, alizarin

crimson

and rose carmine, with streaks

of pink and white

clouds above the

world, saying “love, love, love”

and never stop loving, reaching out,

touching

though the heart may be broken

over and over again

never give up the

hope that love can heal the world.

James Stansberry

James is a Seattle writer/cancer warrior/psychic/medium

SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).

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