Poetic Romance

Romance is conveyed in so many different ways.

One less commonly used is the medium of poetry. Sometimes words penned on the page put across our feelings to someone else so deeply that we are moved to tears. Moved to compassion. Moved to passion in ways we would never before have thought possible. And yet, we find ourselves feeling as we have never felt. Holding as we have never embraced before. Touching gently and intimately as we would never have imagined before. And it was the power of words, the touch of the breath of eros upon our lips, our hearts, and our minds that has created within us this mood of sweet closeness, such warm intimacy.

Words have power and they have deep meaning. Words have caused individuals and nations to rise and become great. Words have tenderness as they gently play the music on the strings of our heart. Words arouse us and gently lay us to rest. Words soothe our longing hearts and aching souls. Words move us to become so much more than we are. They lift us so much higher than we have ever been.

Romance through words can be the healing balm to our troubled heart after a challenging day. Words are the whispers of the gentle soul upon the flesh of our anxious frame. Words convey the conversations of our hands as we slowly caress the softness of the tender soul.

Read gently the searchings, the sharing of the heart:

"Breathless"

I quiver with anticipation
Ache for the moment
Breathlessly I long
To hear the sound of your voice;
It is only but a moment
Though it seems to take forever
Until we are together
Sharing heart, thought, mind and voice
Enjoying the depth of such
Awesome company!
Then once again
I find myself waiting
For our next precious moment;
Breathlessly waiting
I quiver with anticipation!

"If You Are There"
(From the epic poem, "The Crusader")

My love for you shall grow every day
Eternal happiness, too.
Our light will shine that all may see
What caring and loving can do.

Reach out and place your hand in mine
Together we'll find the way;
Forever we'll seek for the paths of truth
Our love growing day by day.

And then, at last, when here we're through,
Eternal glory we'll share.
Forever true, wherever we are
The farthest star
Is heaven, if you are there,
Is heaven, if you are there!

About The Author


Bobby Ellen Glenn has been writing for over 30 years, and is the managing director of Blue Romance (www.moonlitefire.blogspot.com), a site for the promotion of things romantic. Any element of "positive" romance is sought for. Send inquiries to nexushelps@gmail.com.

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Write An Apology To Your Spouse: How to Apologize In a Way That Really Works For You

by: Dr. Peter Pearson

Being apologetic doesn't come easily for me. Unfortunately, being inconsiderate and self-centered does. So I realized long ago that my marital survival would depend on two things: 1) learning to apologize and 2) becoming less selfish and more considerate.

It was easier to start with apologies. Over time I got better and better at learning how to apologize. I was amazed at the effect.

First, it was the basic mumbling of, "I'm sorry." Those two words were remarkable in healing bruised feelings. It was as if I had a license to do what I wanted-- as long as I looked sincere and said, "I'm sorry." It was like having a "Get out of jail free" Monopoly card.

When my apology failed to produce the desired results, I spruced it up. I would put my apology in a tuxedo, and my wife would be so grateful that I would get another reprieve.

Given my personality, I had lots of opportunity to practice making apologies. Ultimately I created a formula. It's for the bigger offenses or for smaller offenses that you have repeated so often they've created a lot of tension with your spouse.

Five Step Formula For a Really Good Apology

1. Describe your offense. This is necessary so your partner knows exactly what you're apologizing for.

2. Describe what you think is the effect on your partner. This display of empathy is comforting to the other person.

3. Describe why you did what you did. This reassures your spouse that you're on top of the problem and reduces their need to nag you about it.

4. Describe why you're interested in changing the offensive behavior. This demonstrates an understanding of the big picture that as couple you're a team.

5. Describe a self imposed penalty for not changing. This one is the clincher. Think of an appropriate penalty for your offensive behavior, and tell it to your spouse. Tell them that if you don't change you will impose the penalty on yourself. This reassures them that you mean business.

I encourage people to write their apology. Writing it out first or writing it and then giving it to your mate has several advantages:

1. You can collect and refine your thoughts. It is very difficult to think through an apology on the fly, especially if your angry partner is on the offensive.

2. You will be heard all the way through. Nobody will interrupt and start yelling at a spouse when they are reading an apology.

3. You avoid the hostile questions that often interrupt you when you start speaking the apology. These negative questions have the nasty effect of derailing your good intentions and then you just have another argument which demands another apology.

4. You avoid the raised eyebrows and squinting eyes during the apology which just derail you again. (See the last sentence in number 3.)

5. It looks like you have given this some serious thought (which might even be true).

6. You don't have to sleep on the couch tonight.

Putting It All Together

1. Honey, I've been thinking about your comments that I don't follow through consistently when I say I'll do something. I apologize for that.

2. Being inconsistent means you can never be sure whether I will follow through or not. I imagine it keeps you on edge and wondering if you should "remind" me or not. If you don't speak up you run the risk that I won't follow through and then it is too late to take corrective action. If you do speak up, you run the risk of coming across like a nag.

3. I hate to admit it, but when I agree to something, sometimes it's just to get you off my back. I think, "well, I'll do it if I get time." But if it's something I really don't want to do, often I simply don't make the time. I'm also unreliable when my priorities collide with yours--and my priorities too often prevail. This means I really haven't thought much about us being a true team where we can each count on the other to follow through.

4. I actually have some interest in improving my reliability. I would feel more aligned with my higher intentions about being a good partner, and we could probably have more fun together.

5. Finally, I want you to get off my back as a policeman to make sure I follow through. Both of us will feel better about that. So when I don't follow through or give you a timely warning (stuff does happen) then I will work on cleaning the garage the following weekend for at least two hours every time I blow it.

Our book, "Tell Me No Lies," includes some helpful insights about apologies. For more information or to order, visit The Couples Institute.

May all your apologies be little ones.

About The Author


Dr. Peter Pearson

Since 1984, The Couples Institute has helped people create extraordinary relationships. They'd like to help you and your partner overcome your problems and evolve as a team. Visit www.couplesinstitute.com to subscribe to their free newsletter.

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The (Nearly) Lost Art of Sending Greeting Cards

by: Cari Haus

There's a time-honored tradition that I haven't found much time for in my life. While I have always enjoyed receiving cards, I haven't been very good at sending them. This is a shame, I know. But like too many people, I have been running my legs off on the treadmill of life, sometimes to the neglect of life's more important tasks.

This is in contrast to a dear great aunt of mine. I could always count on "Gigi" to send birthday cards right on time, and Christmas cards too. Each card had a sweet note and a crisp dollar bill-inside. I heard she went to the bank special to get those new dollar bills.

Gigi had no children of her own, so she adopted her sister's four children and sixteen grandchildren wholeheartedly. She had a number of other great-nieces and nephews from her husband's side to send to as well, and she sent cards to every one. There was a system to Gigi's card-sending, too. Up until the time you got married, there was a dollar in every card. Once you got married, the dollars stopped but the cards continued.

I always admired how Gigi sent carts. That's the kind of aunt I wanted to be. And Gigi never failed, right to the end. She passed away while in her eighties, while on her way to church. The day after Gigi died was my birthday. I was still wrapped in my sadness that she was gone, when suddenly it hit me: there might be a card in the mail.

I opened the post office box with trembling hand'and there it was one more envelope in the familiar handwriting, postmarked from Louisville, Kentucky. The last birthday card that Gigi ever sent.

I still have that card. It's a reminder to me of that personal touch I want to extend more often. Sending cards has gotten easier these days, what with computerized reminders and card-sending services, etc.

I still have a file full of cards I never sent, but with the aid of my computer, that file shouldn't grow any fatter. It bothers me a bit not to have each card written in my handwriting even though I use a computerized handwriting font that really is my own. But there is warmth in the words I write, and the joy of keeping in touch when otherwise I might not have. They say it's the thought that counts, and there's plenty of thought in each of my cards. I wish Gigi was here to know that I'm now sharing some of the sunshine she sent my way. She would be proud.

Copyright 2006 Cari Haus

About The Author


Cari Haus sends snail mail greeting cards from the Internet, and loves it. For more information, visit http://www.my-online-greeting-cards.com/.

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