It’s on days like this
that I think of you most:
all the red and pink
and the hearts and flowers
and stuffed unicorns
and candy corns and…
all the sugar.

Everyone is so saccharine to each other
on days like this
calling each other sweetie
or honey
or lamb chop with mint jelly
– it’s all about system overload
the adrenaline rush
and the ensuing high.
It’s so easy
to lose control.

You were always so good
at reining me in
minimizing my consumption
so I ate controlled portions.
You made sure
my Valentine’s Day obsessions
didn’t go overboard.

Now, there’s no one
to stop me from consuming
as much sweetness as I want
this time of year
which makes me sick
and then think of you
on days like this.