A Poem for My Wife

I'm learning to simply accept these long gaps in posts. Not ideal for readers, but it's the best I can manage right now.

I wanted to share a poem with everyone. This is one that I wrote for my wife, Rihoko, for Valentine's Day. She was trying to figure out what I was planning for more than a week.

I am not a poet. My writing has always leaned strongly toward fiction. But I think poetry is a great method for any writer to stretch their muscles.

After looking at a few different forms of poetry I settled on the Villanelle. It was something new for me, and forced me to adhere to a certain form. I spent small pieces of time on it over the course of a week, finally settling on a draft that I could present to a few critique readers. Yes, I wanted to make sure it was the best poem I could write for her.

I presented the poem to her on the evening of Valentine's Day. We managed to get the kids to sleep on time and were planning on sitting down together, something we don't have the opportunity to do very often with the busy pace of our lives. I lit a few candles for atmosphere, and brought out a bottle of wine. i had actually filled our wine bucket with snow, which we had in abundance at that time. It did a great job of keeping the wine cold, but also looked a lot better than a pile of ice cubes. Then I handed her the journal.

I have several journals which have been gifted to me over time. I'm a writer, and that seems to be a natural option for others when shopping for my birthday or Christmas. Personally, I love it. I enjoy collecting journals, and force myself to work on filling them as frequently as possible.

I have one that was not being used, and decided to try something new to show my affection for Rihoko. Periodically, I would read through some of my books of poetry, trying to find something that would cause me to think of my wife. I've hand written in several poems, both classic and contemporary, that helped me to express my feelings. It was in this journal that I wrote out the poem I've included below. For me it was a much better choice than a dozen roses. Not only did I save money on the increased cost of flowers, but I gave my wife something personal, something she can cherish, something that is unique and hers alone.

Here is the poem I wrote for my eternal beloved, my wife, whom I love very much.

Every Day I Learn to Love You More
by Michael Colwill

Every day I learn to love you more,
and the bluebell brings a melody new;
the sun's caress is warmer than before.

At daybreak's hour, barefooted, you go for
a walk, lightly kissed by the morning's dew.
Every day I learn to love you more.

Tenderly alighting on earth's green floor
the ground trembles at the touch of you,
and the sun's caress is warmer than before.

The give and take of the waves on the shore,
our shaping of each other's heart adds to
my learning every day to love you more.

With a flower's sweet scent you awaken the core
of me, enticing my love your own to pursue.
The sun's caress is warmer than before.

So tread softly before my heart's door,
this key I've entrusted solely to you,
so every day I can learn to love you more.
Your caress, as sunlight, is warmer than before.

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards - #2 - #5

A continuation of the Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards, started on January 1st of this year.

"2. Resolved, to be continually endeavouring to find out some new contrivance and invention to promote the forementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God, nor be, nor suffer it, if I can possibly avoid it.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can."

Taken from volume one of The Works of Jonathan Edwards, which can be read for free online here.

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards - #1

This is a list of resolutions that Jonathan Edwards read once every week to keep his mind focused on God. I hope this series containing his resolutions helps you to do the same.

"Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake.

Remember to read over these resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved, so to do, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever."

Stop back tomorrow for the second resolution, taken from volume one of The Works of Jonathan Edwards, which can be read for free online here.

Writing Quote #25

"I was working on the proof of one of my poems all the morning and took out a comma. In the afternoon, I put it back in."

- Oscar Wilde

Writing Quote #24

"Every writer must acknowledge and be able to handle the unalterable fact that he has, in effect, given himself a life sentence in solitary confinement. The ordinary world of work is closed to him -- and that if he's lucky!"

- Peter Straub

Writing Quote #23

"Most people don't realize that writing is a craft. You have to take your apprenticeship in it like anything else."

- Katherine Ann Porter

Writing Quote #22

"The reader has certain rights. He bought your story. Think of this as an implicit contract. He's entitled to be entertained, instructed, amused; maybe all three. If he quits in the middle, or puts the books down feeling his time has been wasted, you're in violation."

- Lary Niven