Make your own love poem

-- Jennifer K Mahal

Sweet words of love are in the air. Every year, poet Lee Mallory

organizes the Valentine’s Love Poetry Contest at Alta Coffee House in

Newport Beach. And every year, poets across Newport-Mesa work to come up

with that perfect confection to say to their loved ones, whether on stage

or not.

We at the Daily Pilot have been struggling mightily to write a

beautiful poem expressing our heartfelt love and devotion for our

valentines. Instead, we were struck with writer’s block.

So, with apologies to Shakespeare, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and

poets worldwide, we present the a fill-in-the-blanks, Mad Libs-style love

poem. It put a smile on our sweethearts’ faces. May it do the same for

yours.

AN ODE TO (NAME HERE)

Shall I compare you to (noun, item of beauty)?

You are more (adjective that describes your beloved) and (a second

adjective).

How do I love (name of your loved one), let me count the ways

I love you more than (an item you refuse to give up)

There are no words to express the (noun, a dimension) and (noun, a

dimension) of my feelings

You are (adjective) in my eyes.

More like (title of a movie you love) than (title of a movie you

hate).

As sweet as (name of your favorite candy) and as wise as (favorite

animal)

You are my beloved.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

The Valentine’s Love Poetry Contest will take place at 8 p.m Thursday

at Alta Coffee House, 506 31st St., Newport Beach. The first 15

contestants who sign up, starting at 6:30 p.m., get to compete. The entry

fee for each contestant is $4. There will be prizes awarded. Admission is

free to the public. Information: (714) 564-6526 or (949) 675-0233.