A Poem by Nicki Giovanni

I read a poem by Nicki Giovanni (1943-) sometime this year – I forget when – which runs as follows:

Some people forget that love is

tucking you in and kissing you

“Good night”

no matter how young or old you are.

Some people don’t remember that

love is

listening and laughing

and asking

questions

no matter what your age.

Few recognize that love is

commitment, responsibility,

and no fun

at all

unless

Love is

You and me.

I keep wanting to add something here or there but somehow the poem sort of captures in snapshots of deft images of what I have long felt and still feel – in essence – even though I can’t, sadly enough, say that I have been able to fulfill all the points.

It is Christmas Eve’ and I shall go and make some coffee and listen to a few carols and look outwards and inwards for a little bit and take a walk. I have been sitting hunched over, typing and editing and framing word documents for almost the whole weekend, barring a few delightful moments upon unexpected mini phone-calls. I didn’t even notice when dusk approached and twilight descended. Now it feels like a dark and rather silent winter night outside. I can almost see the soft snow covering the ground and feel the blue, crisp air but that is my imagination running away.

Merry Christmas and a lovely New Year to my loved ones – Fimh included.