As you all know, I haven't had the mental energy to write as much recently but since this is a love story I really wanted to have some sort of special update for Valentine's Day. To that end, I've written a series of love poems from various S&V characters to their love interests!

These poems range from sentimental to goofy to heartbreaking. I hope you enjoy them!

I could have gone about my life the same

from day to day according to my plan

had not she chosen then to say my name,

for with that word the tumult she began.

With easy smile she flooded through my soul

and washed out all the things that held me back,

and once I was no longer in control

I had no back-up plans to there enact.

For my love is like the lightning's sudden strike,

which careless of its strength and blinding flash,

scars all the hills and trees and hearts alike

where'ere it deigns to turn the land to ash.

Yet never have I been more grateful than

I am for this calamity—My Anne.

I never understood how poets think

to twist their rhymes, words so in sync,

or craft a clever metaphor

with 'as' and 'like' and so much more.

Or does that make a simile?

I simply do not know, you see.

But for all my faults that you might find,

when you placed your lips on mine

and I knew at last that this was real,

I understood how poets feel

What I've always known is that

in this world there is pain

and there is you.

There are wicked people in this world

and I can often feel my own sin

crawling underneath my skin searching

for any break or tear to claw its way out.

But also, there is you.

And there is ugliness in this world.

When I look at my own reflection

in a mirror and feel my stomach churn,

I remind myself that somewhere,

out there,

hopefully nearby,

is you.

But if I am to understand that you

are gone now from this world,

then will you tell me, please?

What is to become of pleasure

and goodness

and beauty?

For I no longer know where to find them.

*first two stanzas have been crossed out*

Trees are green

Arrows are sharp

You are so cute

you've stolen my hearp?

Arrows are sharp

Trees are green

I like you so much

won't you be mine (but say it like mean)

Arrows are sharp

poems are hard

I'll see you tomorrow for archery practice

I do not know yet what to say,

or if you've stolen my heart away,

but as we sit under this canopy,

I wonder what you might mean to me?

I hope you enjoyed this Valentine's special! I should be back next week with a regular update.

In the meantime, you can follow me on Twitter over at: twitter.com/teddy_stonehill

You can support me on Patreon over at: www.patreon.com/TeddyAsplund

And you can join the Bastards' Club discord server at: discord.gg/uvnu37qKx2