Valentine’s Day
There was a poem I never searched for, yet it found me.
I had read shelves of verses, wandered through borrowed lines and familiar metaphors, but none of them carried your name. Until you arrived—unwritten, untouched, belonging to no book but my heart. You were that one poem I had never read anywhere else, because you were not meant to be read… only lived. And your body became my country.
A land without borders, where exile did not exist. Every curve was a memory, every breath a language I already knew. I did not need a map—my soul recognized the soil.
In you, I learned that home is not a place on earth, but a presence.
And love is not repetition—it is the courage to begin something the world has never seen before.
شعری بودی که هرگز نخوانده بودم،
چون قرار نبود خوانده شوی،
قرار بود زندگی شوی.
و تنِ تو وطنِ من شد؛
بیمرز، بیتبعید،
جایی که روحم
خودش راهِ خانه را بلد بود.
Valentine’s Day is often associated with traditional expressions of love—flowers, chocolates, and roses. But sometimes, the most profound celebrations come through heartfelt words and poetry that touch the soul beyond conventional tokens. This poem beautifully captures the essence of love as a living experience, not merely a repeated phrase or worn metaphor. From my own experience, love truly feels like a personal poem that only you and your partner can write together. It’s not something you find in books or borrow from others but an ever-evolving story that belongs to the hearts involved. The imagery of love as a country without borders resonates with how love transcends physical and cultural boundaries, connecting two souls in a home that exists in presence, not place. I remember a Valentine’s Day when my partner and I decided to forgo gifts and instead wrote personal poems for each other. The intimacy of those handwritten verses made that day feel timeless and unique, much like the poem here which blends English and Persian verses, evoking rich cultural layers and shared emotions. Also, the concept that love requires the courage to begin something new, something unseen in the world, resonates deeply. In relationships, love demands vulnerability and creativity—a willingness to grow and invent new ways to express affection. This is especially meaningful in a world where many tend to repeat familiar patterns; breaking free brings true connection. The inclusion of Persian lines alongside English symbolizes how love embraces diversity while uniting differences into a harmonious whole. It reminds me that love is a universal language felt beyond words, grounded in presence and understanding. For readers in places like Richmond Hill, Newmarket, or anywhere across Canada, reflecting on love this Valentine’s Day through poetry invites a pause to appreciate not just romantic gestures but also the deep emotional landscapes that shape our connections. Whether you are close to your loved one or navigating distance, love’s presence truly becomes the home your soul recognizes and longs for.
