Valentines Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

FRIENDSHIP'S ROAD
Friendship is a chain of gold
Shaped in God's all perfect mold.
Each link a smile, a laugh, a tear,
A grip of the hand, a word of cheer,
Is steadfast as the ages roll
Binding closer soul to soul;
No matter how far or heavy the load,
Sweet is the journey on Friendship's road
-J. B. Downey-

MY CHOICE
Shall I tell you whom I love?
Hearken then awhile to me;
And if such a woman move
As I now shall verify,
Be assured 't is she or none,
That I love, and love alone.
Nature did her so much right
As she scorns the help of art,
In as many virtues dight
As e'er yet embraced a heart,
So much good so truly tried,
Some for less were deified.
Wit she hath, without desire
To make know how much she hath;
And her anger flames no higher
Than may fitly sweeten wrath.
Full of pity as may be,
Though perhaps not so to me.
Reason masters every sense,
And her virtues gave her birth;
Lovely as all excellence,
Modest in her most of mirth.
Likelihood enough to prove
Only worth could kindle love.
Such she is; and if you know
Such a one as I have sung;
Be she brown, or fair, or so
That she be but womewhat young;
Be assured 't is she, or none,
That I love, and love alone.

-William Browne-

THE ARROW AND THE SONG
I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For, so swiftly it flew, the night
Count not follow it in its flight.
I breathed a song into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song?
Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow, still unbroke;
And the song, from beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow-

HOW DO I LOVE THEE
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most Quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!--And, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning-

THE HUMAN TOUCH
'Tis the human touch in this world that counts,
The touch of your hand and mine,
Which means far more to the fainting heart
Than shelter and bread and wine;
For shelter is gone when the night is o'er,
And bread lasts only a day,
But the touch of the hand and the sound of the voice
Sing on in the soul alway.

-Spencer Michael Free-

VALENTINE'S DAY

Saint Valentine's Day began as a religious festival commemorating St. Valentine who was martyred on February 14, 270. By the 14th century, the celebration had turned non-religious with young lovers exchanging gifts on that day. Medieval belief was that birds mate on February 14 and young men and women should choose their true love. During this century, the celebration has turned to sending greeting cards to your love and to friends. Giving flowers, candy and having special parties has also become popular.