Living

Her Valentine

by James Whitcomb Riley 1849–1916

From Riley Songs of Friendship (1915)

Living

Somebody's sent a funny little valentine to me.
It's a bunch of baby-roses in a vase of filigree,
And hovering above them--just as cute as he can be--
Is a fairy Cupid tangled in a scarf of poetry.

And the prankish little fellow looks so knowing in his glee,
With his golden bow and arrow, aiming most unerringly
At a pair of hearts so labeled that I may read and see
That one is meant for "One Who Loves," and one is meant for me.

But I know the lad who sent it! It's as plain as A-B-C!--
For the roses they are blushing, and the vase stands awkwardly,
And the little god above it--though as cute as he can be--
Can not breathe the lightest whisper of his burning love for me.

MLA

Riley, James Whitcomb. “Her Valentine.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/riley/295/.

Chicago

Riley, James Whitcomb. “Her Valentine.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/riley/295/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by James Whitcomb Riley