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February 14, 2024

A heart of burning love, an ashen cross
Converge today: the marriage of two kinds
Of love. The feast day is St. Valentine’s—
Which, this year, intersects Ash Wednesday: Eros
United with Agape.  This brave martyr’s
Strong love enabled him to bear great tortures.
He counted all things, even life, as loss
For Christ, who strove with death.  Today’s contrast
Of penitence and romance—feast and fast—
Appears as we anticipate the riven
Veil that must precede the proclamation
That death has been defeated, and He’s risen!
With foreheads crossed, we hope one day we’ll die
And rise in Him, inspired by Valentine
Whose valiant heart of love burned with this sign:
These crisscrossed ashes on us that defy
Eternal death, whose earthly meaning lies
In Christ’s triumphant, finished sacrifice.
We wear them in the knowledge that we’re dust,
And that Agape, of all loves, is best.
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Cynthia Erlandson is a poet and fitness professional living in Michigan.  Her second collection of poems, Notes on Time, has recently been published by AuthorHouse, as was her first (2005) collection, These Holy Mysteries.  Her poems have also appeared in First Things, Modern Age, The North American Anglican, The Orchards Poetry Review, The Book of Common Praise hymnal, and elsewhere.

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19 Responses

  2. Margaret Coats

    Cynthia, what a fine poem to mark this coincidence of days! Ash Wednesday takes precedence in our liturgical lives, yet by divine arrangement, the martyr’s feast contributes special meaning to it this year. There is a call to exercise the valor of penitential self-sacrifice in relation to romance. I seem to remember that Saint Valentine was known for letters concluding, “your Valentine,” in the courteous old fashion, so there may also be a distinct call to writers. I’m very glad you’ve responded with this lovely piece, particular to this one day in salvation history, exploring human love and divine as we make a solemn turn tomorrow toward the Paschal triumph.

    Reply
    • Cynthia Erlandson

      Thank you, Margaret! It seems that we were both thinking along the same lines about this “coincidence of days”!

      Reply
  3. Jeffrey Essmann

    Cynthia: Thanks so much for this, if only for reminding us that Valentine was a martyr (twice over, if you consider his martyrdom to contemporary ideas of romance). The juxtaposition/overlay of the two sacrifices, the two loves, is wonderful–and so skillfully balanced–and I greatly appreciate your final vote for agape. And just have to mention: you know how sometimes an image, for whatever reason, will just jump out a poem and grab you, you’re not quite sure why? Here it was “the riven veil.” I just love it. I’m sure it’s going to be one of my meditation points over the next forty days, for which I thank you most of all. God bless, Jeffrey

    Reply
    • Cynthia Erlandson

      I’m really grateful, Jeffrey, for what you’ve said here. I’m glad the riven veil image struck you strongly. It is a profound visual image and auditory echo that has, naturally, been used in so many Holy Week poems. Thank you, and a blessed Lent to you.

      Reply
  4. James A. Tweedie

    Not to mention the happy coincidence that the word “lent” is lovingly tucked away inside the word “Valentine”—Perhaps a sign touching on the beautiful and profound theme of entwined loves of eros and agape in Cynthia’s poem. Both loves flow from the heart of God with agape being “the greatest of these.”

    Reply
  5. Cynthia Erlandson

    You made me smile, James; I actually hadn’t noticed that “lent” is in the center of the word “Valentine.” There must be some meaningful element of divine providence in that. (Plus, it might be handy to know if you’re playing Scrabble.) Thank you very much for your comment.

    Reply
  6. Brian A. Yapko

    What a beautiful poem, Cynthia, that reconciles both types of love in what almost feels like a union between Valentines Day and Ash Wednesday. Initiallly, this seems improbable — until you focus on St. Valentine’s martyrdom and the very nature of the love he died for with a view towards Easter’s “He is risen!” and the perfection of Christ’s love. Your work is very compelling and very moving.

    Reply
    • Cynthia Erlandson

      Thank you, Brian; it is so good to hear this from such an accomplished poet as yourself!

      Reply
  8. Paul A. Freeman

    A workmanlike and educational contrasting of the two occasions being celebrated today.

    Thanks for the reads, Cynthia.

    Reply
  9. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Cynthia, what a wonderful lesson this is to all of us celebrating St. Valentine today. How many know of his wonder? The words “Today’s contrast
    Of penitence and romance—feast and fast—” draw attention to the merging of significant dates on the calendar to concentrate on the meaning of not just love, but the ultimate love. Thank you!

    Reply
  10. Cynthia Erlandson

    Thank you so much for your appreciation of my poem, Susan! I love when significant things merge, like these two days.

    Reply
  11. Christina Lesinski

    What a lovely poem, Cynthia, showing the contrasts of these two occasions. This one definitely caught my eye as a must-read! Thank you for bringing this to the attention of your readers in such a beautiful way!

    Reply

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