In a shop on the corner, there’s a man
selling love on pretty paper—processed
cards with messages manufactured in
bulk with heart-shaped chocolates.
It saves time that way. We purchase
emotions along with our groceries and
barter one poet’s words for another, over
dinner with complimentary Champagne.
Romance is not dead. One can find it on
special at the local newsagent for five
dollars including tax—cuddly teddy
bears with silky red hearts to tell us
that we’re sexy.
In a prepackaged world, we are lucky
that there are people behind typewriters
writing for Hallmark and other card
companies, telling four million people
with the same words—“I love you.”
How do we face the ones we love?
How do we cope with any reality which
is not on TV? How do we connect?
How do I touch you?
Perhaps that is why we need someone
else to say it for us; To give expression
to our emotional illiteracy.
As much as we have refined
communication, rising high above
the beasts to send messages across
the galaxies, or e-mail England in a
matter of seconds, we still cannot
say the simple words: I love you.