valentine's

sugar-coated candy hearts
fail to capture, or impart
the way a wrinkled man and wife
snuggle down to spend their life
till death's dark voice declares them gone
a plaintive cry, a sad swan's song

paper cards and fancy rings
fail to give an offering ... the way
a homeless woman can
when her last crumbs she gives her man
the way a single mom displays when
her spare time she gives away

a sweet caress
of pure kindness
an act of selfless love