A Week Shrouded in Affection

This poem is dedicated to the one,who didn’t need a reason to stay, who chose love in silence, on ordinary days with messy hair and quiet smiles.

It began small, on the breath of Rose Day,
A gentle Blossom, a timid step,
No sky splitting in two, no earth shaking,
Just you, me, and the echoes of our silence.

Shy and Quiet, Propose Day decided to creep.
No you didn’t kneel, but you did meet my eye.
Speaking in whispers, soft and unsure,
The world stilled, your gaze held centuries.

Sweet, but more than the wrappers on the floor,
Chocolate Day, your laughter, the smudge
Of Time holding its breath,
And sweet nothings, woven and entwined.

Arms wide he bore me on Teddy Day,
“He’s me, but soft inside,” you quipped.
It smelled of stilled time, hugs, and magic.
Though now he graces my windowsill.

No grand declarations on promise day,
Just a tight grasp of intertwined fingers,
“When it’s my turn... I won’t always get it right,
But I’ll be here. Each day. Each night.”

Then there was Hug Day. No bouquet.
Just you, silence, and not departing.
Love occasionally needs to be muted,
And it needs no rushed narratives.

The clocks capitulated on Kiss Day
And so did the world as lips grazed,
With the delicacy of warmed droplets,
Pressing against the soft earth.

It wasn't wild like a machine, nor showy,
It was calm, real, and soft like snow.
Now, it’s Valentine’s, and we stand still,
Nothing is boring is repeat, nothing to fill,
There’s nothing more to unveil,
In days I didn’t keep score,
I loved you, and I still love you, even more.

Author's Note

I understand it’s too soon to draft this poem …

But when you care for someone deeply, each moment captures the spirit of Valentine’s Day.

One does not look forward to the candle-lit dinners…

You honor them through sleep-filled joyous mornings, random text messages, playlists exchanged, and inside jokes.

This poem does not pertain to the dates of February 14th …

It’s for how they sweep you off your feet on the 3rd and the 7th or a rainy Tuesday with no schedule.

Here is a gift of my affection, wrapped in seven gentle days.

This is because love does not observe the dates on a calendar.

It simply, stays.

Reviews

[Michael Sun Bear]

Hello Neha, I am a fan and hoped to find something new. You know, I found your Author’s Note a more compelling poem than “ A Week…..”. I think you should post it as a stand alone piece of writing. As to the original poem, I do like it and I particularly like a line here and there. I really like: the smudge of Time holding its breath, and sweet nothings, woven and entwined. I think your last three lines are great: There’s nothing more ..……I loved you, and I still love you, even more. Well done.

[Neville]

this is an incredibly compelling poem and thoroughly enjoyed .. Your authors note also proved to be both the cherry and the icing on the cake .. Bravo Neha .. Neville

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you neville for your kind review☺

[Neville]

.. an absolute pleasure & all mine .. 😎👍

[W. Barrett Munn]

You are making great strides as a poet. Well done.

[Neha agrawal]

I am trying to be a good one. Thank you for stopping by and for the review☺

[Nibedita Pradhan]

This one is very thoughfully arranged. I enjoyed it.

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you🙏

[Relic]

Your author's note for the poem is perfect. It's often the simple things that stay with us the most. It's when two hearts blend like a flower and its aroma.

Excellent writing, Neha.

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you so much for your kind words they truly mean a lot. I agree, it’s the simplest moments and feelings that leave the deepest marks on our hearts.

[Buddhistboy73]

A week shrouded in affection....
A beautiful and heartfelt poem about the love between two souls...:)

It flows well and you capture the essence of "ordinary love".......nothing magical, yet something meaningful..

Thanks for sharing...

BB73

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you for reading and reviewing. I am glad it resonate with you in a way.

[FlatDaddy]

What a truly beautiful poem this is.
For some reason I cannot explain, the part that rocked me most was simply,
"the smudge
Of Time holding its breath,"
on Chocolate Day, huh?
Marvelous words, Neha. This piece is filled with them, spaced just where they need to be.
Thank you for the invitation for friendship.

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you so much that means a lot!

[FlatDaddy]

You are welcome.

[DIVYA]

This poem is a very creatively written tribute to a steadfast love. Personally, I'm not a romantic yet it made a beautiful impression on me. Well done Neha.

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you so much divya. I am glad it resonate you in this way.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I really like this piece, but the sixth stanza really blew me away with its wording.
"Love occasionally needs to be muted/
and it needs no rushed narratives"
very smart lines...it reminds me of the kind of love in which there are many comfortable silences.
j.

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you that means a lot. I believe real love often speaks loudest in silence.

[Soren]

So nicely expressed. Love is not knights in shining armor, Valiant heroes saving a damsel in distress from a dragon. Although these make up dreams, love is not a dream. Love is the understanding, the caring the unsaid pledge, the steadfastness through years, the joint suffering, joys shared, the little threads that weave a strong fabric. A wonderful write.

[jessyyjacob]

Hi Soren,

Very clearly you have explained. I experienced this when I saw shimbu s/o Chatrapati sivaji, how was tortured physically and my trying to not to surrender.. most of the leaders and rulers know this and that's why they are called so...
I saw sometimes diplomacy looked like being dhrutharashtra or a dhuryodha and sometimes I felt Karna wrong for protecting self Righteousness who had a terrible death...
I love you soren you are beautiful ❤️ as your thoughts are..keep the beauty and no one like to get bald by being wrong...

[jessyyjacob]

I know muted love sometimes is necessary and you know Lord krishna was very friendly and he too get angry with Ashwaddhama when he tried to kill a baby in pregnant woman of his dynasty heir..
What we can do when you keep on air inside it bursts out , love is not a remote and tv where you just switch chanels..
It also to be expressed when it is time.

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you so much soren. I’m glad it resonated with you love isn’t always loud or legendary, sometimes it’s just quietly choosing each other, every single day.

[Soren]

You are most welcome