Holly Bear is my valentine
and I am not sad
that would be weird if I was sad
that would be like being articulate
when you are asked a question about black holes and their relationship to time
and you have to answer that question
and you are not an astronomer or physicist
or a New Yorker reader
and i am not confused
that would be sad if I was confused
that would be like
my mother who always wrote everything in ALL CAPS
LIKE A NOTE ON THE REFRIGERATOR
TO PICK UP MY BROTHER
because he fell down on the floor and had to be picked up
and i am not filled with regret
that would be confusing if I was filled with regret
that would be like
not having zipped up my behavior and mind
and not listened to what was happening in my heart
and not coming to terms that I insightfully love you
with a passion not unlike the passion Donald Trump has for
asking people to hate things
except I’m not like him because this is about love and I don’t do funny shoulder movements
and i am not lying
that would be regretful if I was lying
that would be like
saying i love you
and not meaning it
but I can’t do that
because I have a brain like mine
made vows to not lie
so on and so forth
all this being said
Holly Bear is my truthful valentine
She’s got a headlamp
