O, wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in't!

❦ Shakespeare, The Tempest, V, i (Miranda)

Zinnias were my mother's favorite flower. When she died, I vowed that as long as I had a garden, I would grow zinnias. My zinnias are in full bloom right now. This gorgeous painting of zinnias has been attributed to Louisiana folk artist Clementine Hunter.

How can I tell you that I love you, I love you
But I can't think of the right words to say
I long to tell you that I'm always thinking of you
I'm always thinking of you, but my words
Just blow away, just blow away ....

❦ Cat Stevens

To the bridge of love,
old stone between tall cliffs
--eternal meeting place, red evening--
I come with my heart,
--My beloved is only water,
that always passes away, and does not deceive,
that always passes away, and does not change,
that always passes away, and does not end.

❦ Juan Ramon Jiminez

I want to breathe

you in I'm not talking about
perfume or even the sweet odour

of your skin but of the
air itself I want to share

your air inhaling what you
exhale I'd like to be that

close two of us breathing
each other as one as that.

❦ James Laughlin