Some say that you’re hollow. That you’re nothing more than a man made shell of wood and wires thrown together by machines and unknown faces miles away from us. That you’re a thing, indifferent to whatever comes your way, and it’s not worth wondering how you’re holding up. But we both know that’s not true.

We both know that there are so many things to love about you.

It starts with your beautiful body, curved to perfection. Firm and smooth, ready for action. Present in your place, sitting on your stand, just waiting for someone to come along and spend some time with you. You don’t care if it’s for five minutes or an hour. You spread so much joy just with one glance, one pluck against your frets, one moment of musical pleasure.

You say so much, whether silent or soundful, for there are so many memories laid with your inlays.

The salty smell of the ocean as you strummed “Hotel California.”

The whiff of cigarettes after playing Billy Joel’s hit in bars.

The crackle of campfires accompanying your rousing round of “Wagon Wheel.”

But above all else, it’s your neck I love the most. Your dark, strong neck that supports your strings. Never wavering, holding firm each time my fingers press against you, cool to the touch. The neck that never disappoints, that’s as constant as the music you’ve made. The neck that when I hugged it, made me feel his presence, although he would never play you again.

I think about the times he picked you up, even when his hands were weak and aching. The times you made him smile and hope for better days, even when the pills had drained him of his spirit. The times he shared you with me, teaching me the songs he loved, helping me play the ones I didn’t know, and harmonising with my voice. I think about the love you held for him and wonder, can you spare that love for me?

Can you be the thing that makes me smile, even when all I want to do is cry? Can you be the thing that gives me strength, even as I feel the ground slipping out from under me? Can you be the thing that lets me know he’s still here, even when it feels like he’s a world away?

I ask these questions, but I know the answers. I know there is no need to doubt.

Like a father’s love, you will be there. Just like he was there for me.

I love you, dear guitar.

Dear Fortress, I write to you from the quietest corner of my heart, a space only you and I truly know.

Within your walls, the noise of the world fades, replaced by the gentle echo of my own thoughts. It’s a sound that resonates deep within, a profound melody that guides me back to myself.

They see an empty room, a lonely space, but I see a universe contained within these walls. Like the pages of a beloved book, my thoughts unfold, revealing stories and insights I never knew existed.

Here, in your stillness, I learn to observe my emotions without judgment, watching them rise and fall like the tides. There’s no need to rush, no need to hide, for in your presence, I am free to be myself.

You are my silent stream of strength, Fortress, a place where I can retreat from the chaos of the world and reconnect with my inner peace.

You are the place where I find the stillness that others can not. Like the feeling of being within the pages of a good book, you surround me with peace.

Thank you, Fortress, for being my constant refuge, my anchor in the storm. I leave your presence feeling renewed, my spirit strengthened by the quiet power I have found within your walls.

I see you-
Long lost loves,
The preciousness of life;
Snapshots of moments-
Now, too long ago.
The more love lost,
heavier do they seem.
Grief sits neatly in them,
For this I am grateful-
Storage full of levity.
I fall in love over and over-
With labels and dates,
Mostly incorrect now…
I was never meant to be keeper of the boxes.
They gawk at me from the corner,
As they have more of my life,
My love inside of them-
My life turned tangible.
Stacking up precariously,
Carrying the love and weight-
Of long ago,
Bankers boxes; folding much-
Origami and cardboard cuts.

They hold my heart and soul,
Memories so near,
in a whiff – the boxes-
Take me back in years.
One small glance,
Transports me to the past.
Leaning on filing cabinets,
Organizing myself neatly.
Of bankers boxes and love,
weight of memories long ago-
weight of generations I didn’t know-
the love in those folds,
the love seen- that I didn’t know.

The more love lost-
The more bliss they own.
Containing my world,
The love that made me-
Stored in a container.
Love is in every fold,
Through every mislabeled decade,
You continue to hold.

I love your strength.
I love how you compartmentalize.
I love how there is one of you,
That’s always the right size-
For mistakes and memories,
For life and love lost,
Oh, Origami cardboard of old,

I love you, bankers boxes.

My Dearest,
You’ve taught me to love beyond what I thought possible, to care deeply with gentleness, and to consider another before myself. In your neediness, I knew I was needed. I pray I will always treat you tenderly, never causing you to be any less than what God has intended you to be. When I fall short, your undeserved forgiveness pierces my soul, reminding me that your response is not based solely on my perfection but equally on your acceptance of my loving care. You have strength without me, but we are stronger as we grow together. I am honored by your selfless gift of life, filling my day with color and beauty as you share a sense of joy, newness, and hope. I see you in the kiss of the sunlight and watch as a light breeze softly touches and moves you.
I am moved to protect you from harm, to remove obstacles and imperfections, allowing the glow of your beauty to be unharnessed. You trust me. You welcome my tender care. You respond.
As the sun drops into darkness, I dream of you and pray you will be safe while I slumber. Morning finds me anxious again for you, with hope that your rest brought yet more fullness to your very existence. But I know you will go. You must go. The briefness of your stay causes my heart to hold tighter, longer, embracing each moment I have with you. And then…slowly, painfully, you fade away, despite my gentle encouragement to stay awhile longer. You cannot stay. I do accept this. Each time, I accept this as a natural, expected part of our sweet relationship. You must move on. The memory of your beauty intricately mingles with my longing for your return. My senses are heightened in the memory of your uniqueness and the fragrance and soft elegance of your presence. And I wait. And wait. Patiently, through the seasons, with anticipation, I await your return.
You always return.
You are my daffodils, the delightful blossoms of my life, and I will forever love you.
Your devoted gardener,
Suzi

ENTRY for the contest: Write a love letter to something, not someone.
By Suzanne Peppers – February 28, 2025
Typewriter4good@gmail.com * 916-201-4520

My Dearest Love,
I have missed you the entirety of this excruciatingly long day. I count down the hours until I can hold you in my hands. The thought of being cuddled up on my brown leather sofa under a blanket and tuning the world out to absorb you has me racing to get home to you. There is nothing in this entire universe that could ever keep us apart.
Your beautiful outside layers draw me in with every look. Sometimes you are worn down and other times you have never been touched by another. I do not care, either way, I am still madly in love with you. You draw me in like a moth to a flame, and sometimes I struggle to put you down.
Even now, when you are at home, and I am away, I can smell your scent. The memory of freshly cut paper and a subtle inky aroma fills my nostrils. But then, I remember the musty, earth like scent that reminds me that others have held you before. I love every scent that you give off and wish to be always enveloped within that scent.
As I open you up you tell me the most beautiful story, and I fall more in love with you the longer that I sit with you in my hands. I remember the tale of dragons and love you told me last week that had me on the edge of my seat. I love embarking on new adventures with you. You transport me to worlds unknown, where fantastical creatures roam and love stories unfold in the most unexpected ways.
Even in solitude, you provide companionship. The cozy afternoons spent curled up with you in a sunbeam are moments I treasure. I find comfort in your familiarity; the spine that once crackled under my fingertips reminds me of countless adventures we’ve shared.
As I read you over and over, please know that my affection for you only deepens. You are timeless, and the bond we share is one I hope to never lose. You are everything that I could ever hope and dream for in a book. Beautiful on both the outside and inside, no matter what version I get of you. I am enticed forever in your warmth, comfort, and adventure. I will never take you for granted.
With all my heart,
Taylor Parks

My Dearest Imagination,
How odd to say my dearest, as you are my only imagination. You’re my only in most regards. You were my only friend before I went to school and my sister left me behind. I got so jealous of her, going off into some great unknown, beyond the big white door. Somewhere she got to meet people and learn things and play games, while I was stuck on my side of the door. I wouldn’t have made it through those long hours separated from her without you.
Remember we would traverse though the haunted dark forest (under the dining room table) with the trees (the legs of the chairs and table) obscuring the view of the evil Winter Queen trying to cast her spell of the cold slumber (my mom putting me down for a nap). Or how about when I finally got to school and none of the other children wanted to play with me, for reasons that were so silly but at the time caused me the greatest sorrows. I was smaller than the other kids, and younger, by a year in most cases. I had ugly mousey brown hair and big doe eyes. Then I had the audacity of being left-handed! No, the other kids wanted nothing to do with me after they found that out. But it was okay, I was okay. You were there, holding my hand through it all. We would sit in the back of the classroom and make up stories about the teacher being a great wizard, with tomes of knowledge she was trying to preserve. She couldn’t let anyone forget the ancient wisdom of her people lest the Kingdom she came from would truly be gone then and history is doomed to repeat itself if we don’t remember. Yes, you convinced me my teacher was trying to save our world from the forces of evil by sharing her knowledge. I guess in a way you were right.
When I moved on to elementary school and into a new building, I was so excited. It looked like a castle. It was so tall, the tallest building I have ever been in! With stone stairs and ancient wooden floors that groaned about being stepped on. The huge windows would rattle against the wind, but they never wavered in their fight against the elements. The radiator would sing to warm us all in the winter and even the walls seemed to whisper their excitement in being filled. It was there that I made my first friend. She was beautiful. She had long dark brown hair, with bows in it. Her dark eyes were like a starless sky, holding mystery and reflecting wonder. She was the first person who said they loved hearing me talk. I admit it now Imagination, I was terrified I would have nothing worthwhile to speak about. So, I stole from you. All those stories you told me about enchanting princesses and evil queens. I regaled her stories of soldiers of an ancient starlit war, before the sun was made, who bound themselves to each other that they should find the other in every life and fight their enemy side by side until all that was left of the Evil one was song and story. I believed we were those soldiers reincarnated, as I felt with her, I could take one the world. It was then that I introduced you to her and it turned out that she had her own Imagination to share. I believe the two of you became more inseparable than the two of us, as we were still bound by body and rules, were the two of you would dance and mingle over us and grow until nothing would contain you. I fell in love with her, and you did with her Imagination, didn’t you?
I am sorry, Imagination. I haven’t spoken to you in some time. She and I haven’t talked in a few years, and you help me through that. That must have been hard, since I know you and her imagination still dance together, we would never separate the two of you. It was true love. It was beautiful. You made it so. You stood by me through everything. And I’m sorry I must ask you to do it again.
The Evil One has returned, they go by a different name now, trying to hide in my own mind. I won’t ask her to fight alongside me again. I know she can’t. We’ve become our own enemies to each other. But if I told you Evil One’s new name, perhaps you can be better prepared for them? They go by Depression now, Imagination. If they get me, please fight on.

Upon our first meeting, I was confused.
As we became aquatinted, I tried to refuse.
I began to barter and make up excuses.
I’ve been hurt before, I bear some bruises.
Though you are relentless, you never give in.
You heal me to a point deeper than skin.
Truth is you’re reckless, which I can commend.
Because when Im broken, it’s my soul you mend.
You come with both, the highs and the lows.
With every lesson, I was able to grow.
There are moments of bliss, there are moments of peace.
There are times of uncertainty, there are feelings that cease.
Through all of the ups and all of the downs.
I continue to search you and seek you out.
I guess I’m obsessed. I can’t get enough.
What can I say? I’m just a girl who loves love.

My dearest friend. I have no idea how I would have made this journey of life thus far without you. You flood my heart, mind, and soul with love, understanding, encouragement, power, and compassion. The voicings you share draw me to worship, to live, to move forward no matter my circumstances. Flooding me with these wonderful things helps me pour into to others. I was born with you flowing through my veins. I have shared you with every single person I have encountered on this journey of life. And, you will accompany me home when my life on earth comes to an end. Music, I have loved you since before I was born. Thank you for every single note.

Good Morning! I just wanted to write and tell you how wonderful it is to see you. You make all the difference in the world to me and, without any doubt, so many others. You rise to the occasion when you can. You share your brilliance and shine. You bring out the best in me and others. Your warmth is like a cozy cuddle, especially at those times when we all need one the most. I love basking in your light. I love looking up to you. Everything and everyone you surround feels brighter, happier, and even sillier at times.
My most favorite part of you is gloriously two-fold. When you rise in the morning, the beauty of you wakes up the world in the most magnificent and colorful ways with your shine that sparkles upon everything and brings smiles to us all. On the flipside of the two-fold, when you set in the evening, it’s almost like seeing the prettiest picture in the world. Dare I say it? Yes, I will! It feels sometimes like I’m in heaven. The way you magically bring out the colors of comfort and serenity and knowing there’s a goodnight’s sleep ahead as if floating on a cloud.
You truly are the biggest yellow ball of love in your beautiful burst of colors. You never, ever disappoint. You always bring something new each time you rise and set that is beyond both magical and enchanting.
Thank you, my sun, for letting me bask in your light. Thank you for your brilliant beams and rays of twinkling light you color across the sky and into my heart. Your presence is a present to us all!
Warmly,

Your winters—the soulless, cobbled walkways, the contorted fingers of bare trees which reach toward heaven. I love your winters, and the leaves which bleed between the cracks in your sidewalks. The sky is cold, but in your heart I cherish every love I share, dear college town.
A slow windchill claws down my spine. The blanched sun offers no relief. Your barren landscape reminds me of my stagnation—the way I’ve always struggled to move on. How can I allow myself to change? Your wind pulls me back from my wandering. My friends are out walking nearby, and I can hear their shiny laughter. Dear college town, your cold hands guide me toward a warmer love. Change will come with the seasons, but for now, I will cling to this moment.
Your springs—the green and earthy scents of rebirth permeate the air. Pansies overthrow dead grass in triumph. I love your springs, and the way your cherry blossom tree renews her yearly vows. So many new things flourish around me, so why do I feel left behind? Graduation is coming closer, and the world seems much too big for me. I fit right in your palm, dear college town. Will I ever be enough? But the fullness of your bloom infuses me with hope. Maybe it’s not too late for me to grow.
When I find myself overwhelmed, I often wander down to your oceans. Blue-jeweled waves whisk from the gulf, lapping at my ankles. Maybe the future will unfold like soft sea foam. Your watery inhale and exhale are reminders that destiny might come naturally, like breathing. Each day might be livable, one at a time. Your salt air, dear college town, speaks such truths to me.
Your autumns—the slow death of every bright thing, reduced to savory ashes of cardamom and nutmeg. I love your autumns, and the way your sparrows pick dry sticks for their nests. The clouds grow burdened with their own grayness, but I think I finally feel free. Unknown days lay ahead. But, I learn from your ladybugs on tender leaves, which wait for tomorrow in quiet solidarity. Fresh fall means a new start, dear college town—for you and me.
Sunset slips across the roofs of your shops and cafes. College students, back from break, bustle between the stores downtown. Peering through doorways, I am greeted by smiling strangers. How strange is the understanding between souls! I smile back. Beauty is everywhere, everywhere at once. The sun will set, and every eye will soon shine in the dark like stars in an intricate constellation. Dear college town, your loveliness works wonders in me. Let me love you before I go.

ProWritingAid Style Score = 100%

Dear Moon,

I know you must get many love letters. Everyone has the opportunity to see you every night, but my love for you shines even brighter than you do.

Your humility is admirable. Although you are big and bright, you reserve your beauty for when most are in their homes. Some nights you do not even reveal your full beauty. But on all nights, your beauty is reserved for those who look for it.

Your strength is inspiring. Even after the hardest of days, you show up. In the darkest nights, you put a brave face on and cast light over us all. Day in and day out, we know the moon will be there to wish us goodnight.

Your power is breathtaking. You move oceans and influence animals. My body listens to you to go to sleep, and my mind can feel when you’re shining your brightest. Without you, we would be lost. You are our guide through life.

Your solace connects me to others. I know that I am forever intertwined with everyone I love because we can both look up into the night sky and see you. I hope my love for you reaches you, and bounces back down to my people. Thank you for shining my love down to those I cannot reach.

Your permanence comforts me. When my life feels out of control, I look up and know you are one thing I can always rely on to be there. My time on Earth is short, but your time around Earth is long. Thank you for reminding me that my life is not long enough to spend time doing what doesn’t fill me with joy.

You’ve been the centerpiece of some of my most precious memories. I will always remember going onto the porch of my childhood home with my mom to look at an eclipse– “Come look outside!” I will never forget spending an evening laying in the backyard with my dad– “See the constellation to the right of the moon?” I will forever cherish sitting around campfires with my grandpa and uncle under your glow– “What a beautiful night.”

We grew up together. I made an effort to look for you and thank you for your beauty, and you never let me down. For the rest of my life, I will love you, and I know you will be there for me.

Thank you moon, for your love. As life moves faster, I promise to never stop slowing down to share a moment with you. I love you, moon.

Love always,
Laney

Dear Liberty,

As I sit in this cold, gray cell, the weight of my past presses heavily on my chest, but I can feel the flicker of hope igniting within me. Today, I write to you not just as a concept, but as a long-lost friend who I have yearned for through the darkest nights of my life. After 24 years of confinement, I am finally stepping into the light, and I want to pour my heart out to you.

When I was just a boy of 15, I made choices that led me down a path of despair. I was lost, angry, and consumed by a world I didn’t understand. I thought I could find power in my actions, but all I found was a prison cell. For years, I felt like a ghost, haunting the halls of a place that stripped me of my identity, my dreams, and my very essence. I never knew what it was like to feel the warmth of family, to hear laughter echoing through the walls of a home, or to make decisions that shaped my destiny. I was a puppet, my strings pulled by the guards who dictated every moment of my life.

But then, something changed. I began to transform, to seek redemption in the only way I knew how. I poured my heart into books, art, and reflection. I learned about responsibility, compassion, and the beauty of life outside these walls. I found solace in the thought that one day, I might be given a second chance. I never imagined that chance would come from the governor of Oregon, who saw the man I had become rather than the boy who had faltered.

Now, as I prepare to step out into a world that feels both foreign and familiar, I am overwhelmed with emotion. The thought of walking out of these gates, of breathing in the fresh air, fills me with a mixture of excitement and fear. I know that with freedom comes responsibility—a weight I am ready to bear. No longer will I be told when to eat, when to sleep, or even when I can have toilet paper. The simple act of making choices will be mine again, and I am ready to embrace that power.

I will not walk out alone, I will have the family I longed for during my youth and years of confinement. A wife and children to embrace. I have missed out on so much—birthdays, holidays, and the everyday moments that weave the fabric of a life well-lived. Yet, as I look ahead, I see a glimmer of hope. I will be able to create the kind of home I never had, filled with love, laughter, and understanding. I want to be the father who teaches his kids about the world, who guides them through their struggles, and who shows them that life is a precious gift.

Freedom, you are not just a word; you are a promise of a new beginning. You are the laughter of children, the warmth of a partner’s embrace, and the joy of making decisions that shape my life. You are the ability to choose my path, to learn from my mistakes, and to rise above the shadows of my past. I am ready to embrace you with open arms, to cherish every moment, and to honor the life that has been given back to me.

As I take my first steps into this new world, I promise to carry the lessons I learned in prison with me. I will not take my freedom for granted. I will strive to be a better man, a better husband, and a better father. I will work hard to build a life filled with purpose and meaning, and I will never forget the journey that brought me here.

So, dear Freedom, thank you for waiting for me. Thank you for believing in my transformation. I am ready to embrace you, to cherish you, and to live a life that honors the gift of liberty. I will walk out of these gates with my head held high, ready to face the world, ready to love, and ready to be truly alive.

With all my heart,

Anthony Pickens

Dearest Passport,

From the moment I held you in my hands, crisp and unstamped, I knew our love would be wild. You were my golden ticket, my secret key, my permission slip to slip away. With you tucked in my pocket, I have crossed borders, chased sunsets, and whispered in foreign tongues, knowing that no matter where I wandered, you would always bring me home.

Remember Dubai? You felt the warm, dry air as I clutched you outside the Gold Souk, breathless beneath the shimmer of treasures whispering from the walls. In Cusco, you wore the smudges of Peruvian coffee, a souvenir from the train ride where we sat shoulder to shoulder with strangers who, for a moment, felt like family. And Puerto Vallarta—oh, how the humidity curled your pages as I danced barefoot on the sand, believing, if only for a heartbeat, that life was nothing but salt water and stars.

You have endured it all—crammed into the abyss of my backpack, wedged between crumpled boarding passes, kissed by the ink of a hundred border agents who never once asked if I loved you as much as I do. And I do. Even now, as your pages fill and your cover softens with wear, I love you more. Your creases are not signs of age but of a life well-traveled, a testament to every dream chased down cobblestone streets and across oceans.

But my love, I know our time is slipping. Soon, they will replace you—strip you of your stamps, your stories, your essence. They will hand me a fresher, unmarked version of you, one that does not yet know the thrill of a departure gate or the poetry of a one-way ticket. It will be new, but it will not be you.

And so, before our journey comes to its inevitable close, let me say this: You have been my most loyal companion, my co-conspirator in adventure, my proof that I have lived. When I hold you, I hold every version of myself I have ever been—fearless, foolish, full of wonder. You are not just a booklet of paper and stamps; you are my heart, bound in navy blue, pulsing with possibility.

Yours, always,
Sami

My Dearest Muse,

You have been my love since the beginning of my time. You put your stamp on some of the earliest memories in my mind. Your presence in my life calms my soul and nourishes my existence. You always know what I need to hear, speaking the words that vibe with my inner thoughts as you take me places far away from here. You were my first Love. The only Love that has been with me since way back when. I could sit and listen to you all day as my soul gravitates, clinging to your every word. Your words have taught me about love and life while guiding me spiritually, as I’ve used you to call on God in times of need or give thanks for the many blessings I’ve received.

Back in the day, I would lie in bed listening to you all night, falling asleep with you by my side. By day, I would sit on the floor surrounded by your presence, mimicking your words as we reminisced, and I dreamed, blown away by the effect you had on me. I could dance to your words, and when life got tough, I could cry to your words. You have been with me through every turn in my life. I am so very thankful to have you as my vice. 

As the years have passed, my love for you has grown. When I wake up in the morning, I turn to you. Throughout my day, I think of you. Before I lay down at night, I am reminded of you. The sound of your words echoes in my head. What would my life be without you? This is something I never intend to find out. The silence would be too much to bear. Together, we have created the soundtrack of my life. How could I live without you, the thing that keeps me going? The place where I go to escape and find solace is with you. You are always there for me, close to my heart and embedded in my soul. Unforgettable you are. I love all versions of you, my love, my muse, my music.

Always and forever,

Me

Since I was very young
we’ve been intertwined
When I think of my first love
you’re the first that comes to mind

The way you make me feel
varies from day to day
Sometimes up, sometimes down
but always in a special way

The sound of your notes, harmonies, and tones
leave many in awe and wonder
The feeling you give is truly unmatched
Dear Music, I love you like no other

“To My One & Only” I truly thank G☀️D for you daily. If I’m honest at this stage of our relationship it’s definitely multiple times throughout my day into my night. You are magnificent. You are immaculate. You are who I aspire to be. Words can not truly describe how you make me feel, but you bring about a sense of peace and joy. I am capable of achieving anything I put my mind to. With you I will never lose, I either win or learn. You display servitude daily. It wasn’t until I wrote this letter that I even tried to imagine life without you. Complete darkness!

Bright, vibrant, beautiful, bold, brutal, loving, caring, warm, present, intentional, nurturing, honest, forgiving, safe & secure are some of the qualities and characteristics I love about you! You know every part of me, inside out. Not once have you ever judged or treated me differently. You continuously shower me with mercy and amazing grace! No one knows my secrets except you and
G☀️D! Your loyalty to G☀️D allows you to show up for me effortlessly. You are faithful in all of your ways. You are a gift and it is because of you I have favor.

The distractions of the world often interrupts our connection, reminding me that I am not worthy of you. Often times my mind gets polluted and distorts my vision. It’s then I am blinded, tricked and bamboozled into sabotaging true love. With you I have hope for the future! I love how you sit high and look low, shining on the just and the unjust. You continue to bless others no matter how much they curse you. No matter how many times I stray away, you’re always there to welcome me back with open arms. Your love is unconditional! Even when my family and friends turn their backs on me, you are there to comfort me. Thank you for being my light in darkness. Shadows do not exist without you!

Moving forward into the future I plan to be intentional about spending time with you. I love you and you complete me. Abundance is my birthright, and to gain access to my inheritance I must acknowledge you above me. I recognize I have 2 ears, 2 eyes and a mouth for a reason. I must listen when you speak. Silence is golden and your voice is so fulfilling and sweet! It is with you HUMANS can truly just BE!

You are the portal that connects the heavens and the earth. I yearn to be a reflection. Heavens tears and your radiant smile produces rainbows, reminding us that there is a G☀️D greater than us all. We are the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and because of you we will forever be connected to the creator.

You are the all seeing eye. You are the original compass. You are the bright and morning star! You are the light of the world! You are infinite and I call you S☀️N because you shine like one.

My body weight presses down upon you,
Pushing you under the water,
But you do not protest.
You do not fight back,
Although movement consumes you,
As you rock to and fro.
Seconds pass,
Turning into minutes.
Still, you move,
As I sit atop you,
Readying myself for our aqueous pas de deux,
While nearby witnesses idle by,
Paying little heed to our commingling.
I have no regrets
Being seen with you,
Mostly by water fowl near shore.
Oh, my kayak,
How I love riding the water
On top of your rotomolded plastic form.
My love for you cannot be kept secret,
Thanks to your neon lime green color
That is visible from space.
It eliminates any chance of a clandestine paddle,
When we are as one on the water.
You take such care of me,
Bravely protecting my bottom,
As you scratch and ding yours
On submerged rocks and branches.
You warn me with a metal placard
Riveted to your green skin
Of a 225 lb. max weight capacity.
Is that because of concern
That the extra pounds I carry
May result in health-related issues for me,
Like diabetes and high cholesterol?
Or is that a federally mandated requirement
For water craft to display?
I hope the former
And blush at your thoughtfulness.
When I first saw you,
Your charms were impossible to resist,
Especially your ability
To fit into my SUV
With the seats folded flat,
Saving me the cost of a roof carrier.
Always thinking of me,
Aren’t you?
You remain constantly on my mind,
As you are visible from our family room window,
Sitting idly under our pergola
That was once used for entertaining,
But now is repurposed for kayak storage,
Much to my wife’s displeasure.
What she doesn’t realize is that seeing you
Inspires me to slide my ample posterior
Into your inviting lime hull
For a workout on the river
To shed pounds like you shed water.
Well, perhaps not pounds but ounces.
Okay, would you believe one ounce,
If I paddle really hard?
That maximum weight capacity may be reached
Someday in the future.
But thanks to you, my kayak,
Not today.
I dip my paddle
And steal away across the water
With my love.