Aseem Kaul

A POEM FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

I swore I wouldn’t write
a poem today.

Instead, I decided,
I would do my taxes.

So here I am, receipts
scattered across the floor
like forgotten letters,
stacks of dates that refuse

to add up, and a heart
that keeps trying to
calculate just what the last
year has cost it; how much
it can get away with;
what, if anything, it is owed.

–from Rattle #28, Winter 2007

§ 5 Responses to “A Poem for Valentine’s Day” by Aseem Kaul

• Anoth R. Poet says:

  July 22, 2008 at 9:51 pm

  “stacks of dates that refuse

  to add up”

  This is a skillful transition in the poem.

  Also: A great poem to send as a Valentine’s Day card to an ex. Put a picture of an old adding machine on the front of the card for a retro touch.

  **Or maybe send to the IRS with your tax return. Make someone’s day at the IRS.**

  Reply
• Anoth R. Poet says:

  July 22, 2008 at 9:53 pm

  Oops – wait a minute – copyrighted work. So get poet’s permission first!

  Reply
• Tim says:

  July 22, 2008 at 10:00 pm

  Ha! I’m sure Aseem wouldn’t mind:)

  Reply
• s k choudhury says:

  July 31, 2008 at 10:48 am

  Hi Aseem
  Could you get back to me at SRCC?

  S.K. Choudhury

  Reply
• Seven poems | Blotting paper says:

  October 17, 2009 at 7:54 am

  [...] A Poem for Valentine’s Day by Aseem Kaul [...]

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