This month I’m taking part in Laura Shovan’s annual poem project, which invites poets to write a poem a day during the month of February. This month’s challenge is #10FoundWords. Each day someone from the community shares a news story, speech or current event and chooses ten words from it for us to use to write a poem. You can find out more about it here and still join in the fun.

I’m over halfway through the month-long poetry challenge, and it’s still hard. It’s also lots of fun, especially as I’ve tried on different voices in different poems. Even better is reading the wide variety of good poems using the same set of ten words.  It also helps that I’m in Puerto Rico for a week, soaking up lots of sun. I will catch up on reading and commenting once I return.

As soon as I saw the article and ten words for Valentine’s Day, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I don’t go for sappy or sweet Valentine’s Day cards or romantic poetry, but I have always loved Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43).” What could be more fun than a spoof of it? Especially when I saw the word “multi billion.” Even though I felt slightly guilty at what I was doing to a classic poem, I had fun with it. I hope you enjoy it, too.

With Apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the multi-billion ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
my purse can spend when chasing out of stores
For the end of sweetness and perfect deals.
I love thee to the level of each commercial’s
Most romantic dinner, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as I seek the perfect card.
I love thee purely, as I declare undying love.
I love thee with the passion that fires up
My old dreams and hides within my personal disguise.
I love thee with a love I seem to lose
with my hefty bills. I love thee with the candy,
cards, flowers, of all my gifts, and if we choose,
I shall but love thee better after this is done.

Here are the words and link to the article:

Happy Valentine’s Day! Heather Meloche is our word finder. Thanks, Heather.

#10FoundWords