Sharon’s favorite poem… and an excerpt
I have never been a huge fan of poetry. That attitude changes, I discovered, when someone writes a poem for you! Many years ago when my husband Steve and I were still dating, he sat down at a local coffee shop in Capitola, California and penned a poem all in one sitting. The inspiration was a prior dinner date in San Francisco, the two of us dining over candlelight at a very fancy restaurant in Ghirardelli Square overlooking the bay and Golden Gate Bridge. Imagine that setting as you read the poem.
Now, nearly thirty years later, this is still my favorite poem. My oh-so-romantic husband often recites it to me, by memory. And, for those who have read In The Arms of Mr. Darcy, he gave me permission to include his poem as one written by Darcy for Elizabeth. That snippet following Darcy whispering the poem into Lizzy’s ear is below.
Your Smile Stops the Minutes
by Steve Lathan
Your smile stops the minutes
And as moments they dance in candlelight.
While your eyes whisper secrets,
My heart with wings takes flight.
In search for more of you to know,
Of why and what make you so,
Then mystery pleads her case
And once again I found your face.
There to know beauty true
And gentle winds of peace and love,
With eyes like jewels shining,
Looking to the One above.
And the moments which find life there
Become the brightest stars above,
Which live forever beautiful
In the sky of my heartâs love.
From In the Arms of Mr. Darcy ~~
Lizzy paused, having managed to bare the majority of their bodies, hands now stilled at his waist as she listened to the romantic words. âI recognized Marlowe, Shakespeare, Lord Byron, and Keats. Who wrote the last one?â She withdrew, gazing upward into his glowing visage.
âDid you like it?â
âVery much. It was beautiful.â
He smiled, bending closer and grazing along her cheek with his lips. âI wrote it for you, my heartâs love.â
âYou wrote it?â
He chuckled, tickling her ear. âYou sound shocked. I was once forcefully informed that only a fine, stout love is nourished by poetry. I do believe ours qualifies. Besides, Jane should not be the only Bennet daughter to have pretty verse written for her.â He nibbled tiny bites across fragile collarbones, hands airily removing her thin chemise. âHas my ideal method of encouraging affection borne fruit?â
She nodded, moaning in response to stimulating fingers. âIndeed. As has my recommendation of dancing. You appear highly affectionate.â
âIndeed,â he rasped, claiming her mouth in an impassioned kiss while pressing harshly against her, his wide palms flattened on her bottom.
We were out on a date in San Francisco, ur hometown an hour away down the coast. We were going to the ballet to see Mikhail Baryshnikov or another play. We were dining at Maxwells Plum over looking the San Francisco Bay and believe it or not a full moon was right behind the Golden Gate Bridge. Even more romantic a moon beam went under the bridge and all the way to the shore line for us to see. It was then and there that this poem was born. I was at a wonderful coffee shop in my hometown of Capitola a few nights later and I wrote it all but the ending in about an hour. Then ending came later at home in a little under ten minutes. I didnt really write it, it wrote me.
Your poem from Steve is one of the best poems I’ve read! No words to describe how romantic he is. Also when you tell me your stories of romantic moments and gestures it always inspires me to be better in my relationship đ xox
This is one hot, passionate love scene, Sharon. The poem is beautiful too.
Kinda my M.O. Luthien! LOL! I actually cut it off before the scene got really good. đ
Love it every time it read it. Romantic Steve