The Week Before Saint Valentine's Day! Poem by Denis Martindale

My one true love was giving hints
About that special day,
That often makes us poor guys wince
How much we're meant to pay!
And yet, how are we then to act
Without some sacrifice?
As gold ain't cheap and that's a fact,
It's much too high a price!

And evening meals in restaurants
Add to our great expense,
And I know as we did that once,
And that bill made no sense!
And rings are out this time of year
As girls think we propose,
And that, of course, is what men fear,
If that's not what they chose!

I've saved from March to Christmas,
From New Year's Eve till now,
That's something that I can't discuss,
Or she'll find out somehow!
But I've planned her a special treat,
To prove that I'm a star,
And I'll be in the driver's seat
Because I've bought a car!

The driving lessons cost a lot
So I could pass the test,
So when she sees the car I've got,
She'll know I've done my best!
It's a yellow Mini Cooper,
That I bought 'cheap as chips'!
If my sweetheart thinks it's super,
She'll kiss me on the lips!

If not, I'll keep the car myself
And let my sweetheart go.
You see, I haven't got the wealth
To let more money flow.
I'm not a rich guy, never was,
And yet this year I tried,
I saved and saved and all because
Of true love, I supplied.

By March, I'll know if she loves, too,
Or just the gifts I gave,
And if she leaves, and says, 'Adieu! ',
Then think of what I'll save!
The Mini Cooper may stay mine,
Perhaps just mine alone,
If she's no more my Valentine,
The one that I've outgrown.


Denis Martindale. The 7th of February 2026.