It’s the month of February with Valentine’s Day on its way. What comes to mind? Hearts, flowers, and the iconic god Cupid. Our winged friend arrives with some impressive credentials of which we need to take note.

“In classical mythology, Cupid is the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. He is often portrayed as the son of the love goddess Venus and the war god Mars. He is known in Latin as Amor. His Greek counterpart is Eros.” ( Wikipedia)

Obviously, this god is to be treated with respect. With that in mind, I’ll give him his full due with a comprehensive list of what is needed to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Let’s begin …

Flowers

Red Roses courtesy of creativemarket.com

You can’t miss with a bouquet of roses. Simply choose the color to match your state of mind. As found in The Old Farmer’s Almanac:

Chocolates

There’s nothing like a heart-shaped box of chocolates or any box of chocolates from an admirer or a true love. After all, the botanical name for the chocolate plant is “Theobrama Cacao,” which means “food of the gods.” Plus, chocolate contains a natural substance reputed to stimulate the same reaction in the body as falling in love. No further words are necessary!

Champagne or Wine

Here’s a tidbit I picked up along the way. I don’t remember the source:

“Champagne and sparkling wines do not pair well with milk or dark chocolate       because of their acidity, which reacts with chocolate and causes a tart taste to occur. Instead, pair white chocolate with champagne and dark chocolate with red wine.”

Depending on the amount of chocolates you receive, you may need several trips to Total Wine or Trader Joe’s.

Courtesy of Toronto Star.com

Traditional Valentine’s Day Candy

Of course, you need to pick up a bag of these timeless beauties and read each one before you pop it in your mouth.

Courtesy of oldtimecandy.com

Valentine’s Day Cards

You’ll want to find or receive just the right one. There’s no limit to the sentiment.

Courtesy of wonderwoman .com

Courtesy of Pinterest

Poetry

Now, to be a little more serious, let’s add words to reveal the heart and speak to the soul.

The Poet’s Love-Song
By Sarojini Naidu   Indo-Anglian poet, scholar, feminist

In noon-tide hours, O Love, secure and strong,
I need thee not; mad dreams are mine to bind
the world to my desire, and hold the wind
a voiceless captive to my conquering song.
I need thee not, I am content with these:
Keep silence in thy soul, beyond the seas!

But in the desolate hour of midnight, when
an ecstasy of starry silence sleeps
and my soul hungers for thy voice, O then,
Love, like the magic of wild melodies,
let thy soul answer mine across the seas.
***

The Mesh
by Kwesi Brew – Ghanaian poet

We have come to the cross-roads
And I must either leave or come with you.
I lingered over the choice
But in the darkness of my doubts
You lifted the lamp of love
And I saw in your face
The road that I should take.
***

Music

Valentine’s Day is the time to channel your favorite love song. Here’s an old favorite:

My Funny Valentine
by Chet Baker

My funny Valentine,
sweet comic Valentine,
you make me smile with my heart.
You’re looks are laughable,
unphotographable,
yet you’re my favorite work of art.
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak
are you smart?
Don’t change a hair for me,
not if you care for me,
stay little Valentine stay,
each day is Valentine’s Day.
***

Art

What’s your favorite work of art? This is one of mine. Art definitely can add to the mood.

The Kiss by Gustav Klimt – courtesy of amazon.co.uk

***

A Romantic Dinner for Two

(Courtesy of CBSBoston.com)

Simply choose your favorite place.

***

There you have it. Flowers. Chocolate. Champagne/Wine. Candy. Cards. Poetry. Music. Art. Dinner for Two.

I wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day. Mostly, I wish you a life filled with a true love, at least once. I leave you with a haiku from the book All Ways A Woman:

Love Haiku
by Carol Mann

leaves turn in color
fall to the ground, fade away
constant is our love

And why not add the gift of a keepsake book? Just sayin’…