love is all around

it’s valentine’s day soon. no matter what you think of it, it’s pretty hard to ignore. even in public libraries whose walls are plastered with paper hearts reminding you so elegantly that red is no longer your favorite color. since i can’t get away from it, why not embrace it and share the love? so in the next week, i’ll post “love poems”, many of which will never be printed in a book, but i hope may ease heartache, keep you warm, and most of all, make you laugh.

let’s kick off the first one with the best breakup poem i’ve ever written. yes, the best.

Ode to my gallbladder

Oh gallbladder, how I won’t miss thee
And the hours of pain you put me through.
Your torturous gurgling of dissatisfaction
The abdominal cramps that made me toss and turn
Night after night meal after meal
It’s all just a memory now that you’re no longer a part of me.

Why did our relationship turn sour?
Did I party too much?  Didn’t give you enough space
To recover from late night tater tots at the Feve?
But you acted up without warning.
I tried to work things out
Started a new diet, even got a second opinion
But you still weren’t happy and there was nothing more I was willing to do.

So now here we are, fated to be separate forever
But let’s face it—we’re both better off this way
You’re free and get to rest
I’m free to live life but a little bit wiser.

(i got surgery to remove my gallbladder in 2007)