Do Not Be Cruel On This Day... Poem by RIC BASTASA

on the day of the hearts
why should you let that heart weep?

do not be cruel, give the heart what is
due for its day

give it a dose of happy pills,
add more blood to its vessels,
put more moisture to its skin
color it by all means
with the brightness of
twenty roses, red as red,
bright as the light of two
happy mornings,

give it its night too,
not as dark as that evil thought
gray perhaps, a little confusion will do,
but if you can, make that evening
romantic, a little teasing finger, lips that
search and find, longings satisfied,
if only illusions, then why not?

give it a drink it deserves,
vodka or tequila, make it dance,
a little tip for tipsy,
raise its hands, in surrender,
curl it in bed, and have it be filled
with love,

a meat cooked well and filled with
gravy,
a salad of fresh lettuce and tomatoes
garnished with Italy,

red wine, red cherry, satisfy the tongue
and the nose,
more fire in the body, rest the arms,
close those eyes,
live those dreams.