Nancy Simpson Chooses Her Number One Favorite Love Poem on Valentines Day --"The Greeting" by James Haba

The Greeting by James Haba

You have been traveling.

I can see it in your eyes--

the unknown roads demanding new belief.

The light of your will in submission

to the pattern bringing us together.

I have been busy waiting.

putting fresh flowers on the table

filling the lamps with kerosene,

arranging ( as well as I could)

everything, so that you might feel

that you had arrived

at the right place

at the right time.

Hello

I am so glad that you could come.

And in honor of our being here together

Let us make a scratch on the wall of the cave.

We could talk.

We could begin with idle chatter.

I'll start

I'll say, "I love you."

Believed to be James Haba's first published poem,

from Ten Love Poems Anthologized by

Robet Bly ( 1981)