Good evening everyone and a Happy Day before Valentine’s Day.
Rufino invited me (and who can say No to Rufino?) to share some of my father’s published poems and, since 2009 marks the 10th year anniversary of my father’s death, I am much honored to do so. First, I had to get my mother’s permission, and she graciously gave it.
When I was growing up, Valentine’s Day was a family affair because Valentine’s Day is also the day of my mother’s birthday.
How many people came with their parents and families to this Valentine’s Ball? I came with some very close friends, and so would like to share my father’s poems of romance to all those who deserve our affection – our family and close friends, and our Valentine’s.
| I. Tonight (Written in 1937 when he was 21 years old) |
| This is tonight |
| And yet not a kindly light |
| From the azure expanse above |
| Befriend my loneliness |
| If this is parting, then heaven too shall sigh |
| If this be the last tryst, then let it linger e’en for a while |
| And then… |
| Knock this evening with a gift |
| And lend me your heart. |
| II. Your Smile |
| The rose bud is entwined with fragrance |
| In the mellow tones of unheard songs |
| Yet ‘neath its waking beauty |
| Is a cluster of fiendish thorns |
| From your lips I see the sparkle |
| Of veiled jewels in gay lusters |
| But neath your ravishing smiles |
| Are there no hidden daggers? |
| III. Revivification (This was written in 1940 when my father was in his early 20’s.) |
| That little sparkles in your eyes |
| Opened to me a new, bright world |
| New vistas, new hopes, new life |
| More lively than the old. |
| You picked me up from this quagmire |
| Of frustration and despair |
| You gave my heart new boldness |
| To face vicissitude and care. |
| This dust of languor is shaken off |
| My chin is up; life’s all a play |
| A string of joys that grows livelier |
| &At the birth of each new day. |
| O, where are those sparkling eyes |
| That gave my heart the stirring light |
| That inspired my troubled soul |
| To take a new and thrilling flight. |
(Leonor talking to the audience) I now have a special invitation for you because it is my sincere belief that we are all poets.
I would like to invite you to find some time this evening to write a haiku – poem of three lines composed of five syllables, seven, and five, respectively. For example:
| Stimulus package | - | 5 syllables |
| Our love has no deficit | - | 7 syllables |
| Two hearts beat as one | - | 5 syllables |
Okay. Now, please get hold of anything to write on, a piece of tissue perhaps, and write your own haiku or any poetry piece. Submit them to the table. I have with me three bottles of Argentinean wine for the top three beautiful pieces that I will read later in the evening.
Thank you and enjoy writing your poems.