The Care And Feeding Of The Heart Poem by Patti Masterman

Don't leave your heart to scrounge old garbage bins,
Looking for things, discarded by others-
No, gently feed your heart with sustaining joy;
Like old yellowed books, with secret compartments
Where distant lovers left their notes and trinkets,
Or just-dried tears, on a wildflower posy.

Nourish your heart on some once living lilac;
A few rose petals, from a faded bouquet;
Bits of hope, for two, far apart,
For love survives on barest scraps of hope,
And long-ago proof of certain caring;
Kindness uncalled for, and least expected.

Your heart could gorge happily
On eyes of true love, or some hand written prose;
Maybe a valentine, lost then found,
Unrestrained delight, in a child's voice;
And the shyest kiss; fluttering eyelids in surprise-
Two hearts will always live better than one.