Be My Valentine
     at nine years of age
by Priscilla Turner Spada

Each kid had a small box on their desk.
We’d been drawing hearts the whole week long.
The handmade ones were special, for our Moms;
then we made a list for all the rest–
our classmates. The store-bought ones would be for them.
These small cards–they came in packs of six–
would display cupids or kids, depict
puppies and cats, with sayings: Be My Friend,
My Valentine, or Be Mine. Some said, SWAK!,
which meant, “Sealed With A Kiss,” signed on the back …
sometimes! … depending if it was for Jack
or Jane. We’d seal them up and take our stack
around the room, drop in each boxes’ slot.
Some got a few; we hoped we’d get a lot.

We girls would blush at messages of love;
the boys did too, but had to still act tough.



 

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