Valentine Love Poetry: Syntax

Syntax

I want to call you thou, the sound

of the shape of the start

of a kiss - like this, thou –

and to say, after, I love,

thou, I love, thou I love, not

I love you.

Because I so do –

As we say now – I want to say

thee, I adore thee,

and to know I n my lips

The syntax of love resides,

and to gaze in thine eyes.

Love’s language starts, stops, starts;

The right words flowing or clotting in the heart.

By Caroline Duffy from Love Poems

Photograph courtesy of Fanni Williams

My Inspiration: Ani DiFranco

Last week my husband and I went to see Ani DiFranco, a Grammy award winning US artist who, considering she has released almost 20 albums in the last 20 years, surprisingly few people know about. Well my husband is a HUGE fan and has all those albums. Her music will always be very important to both of us, her lyrics are very personal and always express so much

Here are the lyrics from her beautiful song, that I have always loved, Overlap from the 1994 album Out of Range I think the opening verse/chorus would make a lovey wedding reading or quote for an order of service too.

i search your profile for a translation

i study the conversation like a map

'cause i know there is strength

in the differences between us

and i know there is comfort

where we overlap

come here

stand in front of the light

stand still

so i can see your silhouette

i hope

that you have got all night

cause i'm not done looking yet

each one of us

wants a piece of the action

you can hear it in what we say

you can see it in what we do

we negotiate with chaos

for some sense of satisfaction

if you won't give it to me

at least give me a better view

come here

stand in front of the light

stand still

so i can see your silhouette

i hope

that you have got all night

cause i'm not done looking yet

i build each one of my songs out of glass

so you could see me inside them i suppose

or you could just leave the image of me

in the background i guess

and watch your own reflection superimposed

i build each one of my days out of hope

and i give that hope your name

and i don't know you that well

but it don't take much to tell

either you don't have the balls

or you don't feel the same

come here

stand in front of the light

stand still

so i can see your silhouette

i hope

that you have got all night

cause i'm not done looking yet

i search your profile for a translation

and i study the conversation like a map

'cause i know there is strength

in the differences between us

and i know there is comfort

where we overlap

© 1994 ani difranco / righteous babe music

Image courtesy of Steve Gerrard