Love conquers all.

*This is a post my sister wrote in her blog and I loved it so I am re-posting it. Thanks Amy.

THIS YEAR'S VALENTINE - BY PHILIP APPLEMEN

They could
pump frenzy into air ducts
and rage into reservoirs,
dynamite dams
and drown cities,
cry fire in theaters
as the victims are burning,
but
I will find my way through blackened streets
and kneel down at your side.

They could
jump the median, head-on,
and obliterate the future,
fit .45's to the hands of kids
and skate them off to school,
flip live butts into tinderbox forests
and hellfire half the heavens,
but
in the rubble of smoking cottages
I will hold you in my arms.

They could
send kidnappers to kindergartens
and pedophiles to playgrounds,
wrap themselves in Old Glory
and gut the Bill of Rights,
pound the door with holy screed
and put an end to reason,
but
I will cut through their curtains of cunning
and find you somewhere in the moonlight.

Whatever they do with their anthrax or chainsaws,
however they strip-search or brainwash or blackmail,
they cannot prevent me from sending you robins,
all of them singing: I'll be there.



While this valentine's message is more than a little terrifying, I like it. I like it because the world is a scary place - some days, it feels as scary as this poem makes it out to be. Some days, I worry about things like this. And the pessimist in me occasionally lists them off, pairing each scenario with a likely place (anthrax at the MOA, for instance - that is a recurring favorite).

But we were not created to live in fear, I am certain of that. A life full of fear is not a full life. I like the theme of this poem - that however abundant the horror of the world around us, love is still stronger than fear. I would take a step further than this poet and say that perfect love casts out fear - at least the deep-seated, irrational sort. It allows us to live in a world of mayhem and still love.

Today, I feel buoyed by this. Dad is home and love wins.