Category Archives: Romance

✩ 55. Elixir of Love – published in five separate anthologies

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Strawberry Heart

My fears are not

That I may cease to be

Rooted steadfast embodied

In a world of physicality

And without fears too

For the deserted drying

Of heartfelt words or inspiration

Forever drawn to all my time Spent in dedication

For no greater pleasure do I feel, may’st I apply

Whilst chained, imprisoned in this dimension

My only freedom, flight of soul, needs must express

Such a deep felt love, for all humanity

A curious quest, I cannot explain

Impression’d on high from an invisible plane

So sublime, that poetic craft

Is not required for meter, or to rhyme

Unless such craft imply, inject, ripened hearts

With the jewel of ‘inner meaning’

Inner-truth infused with love

All-pervading and genuine

Connecting precious principals beyond mere words

Which seek to make whole, thus human kind

In complete align

So that intelligent insights into our complex Universe

May penetrate, not only the heart but also the skin and the mind

Whereupon tinsel-gilded illusions

May fall away into nothingness

Instead replaced by a delicacy, and a gentleness

A refinement of the senses

Through an indiscriminate understanding

That the elixir of love

Is wisdom plus integrity

And connects us all

To every single living being, or entity.
___

Lyrics by Cat Catalyst

‘Elixir of Love’ (above) was written in response to the sonnet: ‘When I have Fears’ by John Keats. Keats sent his sonnet in a letter to his friend John Hamilton Reynolds in January 1818.

‘When I have fears that I may cease to be
Before my pen has glean’d my teeming brain,
Before high piled books, in charact’ry,
Hold like rich garners the full-ripen’d grain;
When I behold, upon the night’s starr’d face,
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,
And think that I may never live to trace
Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour,
That I shall never look upon thee more,
Never have relish in the faery power
Of unreflecting love!—then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone, and think
Till Love and Fame to Nothingness do sink.’

Another Keats quote: ‘I am certain of nothing but of the holiness of the Heart’s affections and the truth of Imagination‘ that he wrote in a letter to his friend Bailey (Full letter here) had the same effect upon me and inspired Holiness of the Heart.

‘Elixir of Love’ has been published in the following anthologies:
Forward Poetry: Love is in the Air – Vol 1 (2015)
Poets for World Healing (2012)
Poets for World Peace (2012)
A Poetically Spoken Anthology (2011)
Reach Poetry (2010)
Love Made Visible LP (2025)

Review of Elixir Of Love

Summary

Elixir Of Love is a soulful meditation on love as a transcendent force that binds all humanity together. The poem rejects superficial artifice in favor of heartfelt expression, describing love as an “elixir” that blends wisdom with integrity to connect every living being. Through rich imagery and thoughtful reflections, it captures love’s power to inspire, heal, and illuminate the human experience.

Why This Poem Matters

This poem stands out because of its profound insight into the nature of love—not just as feeling, but as an essential, transformative wisdom. The poet’s choice to move beyond conventional poetic form highlights a purity of message over mechanics, making the poem feel intimate and sincere.

Lines such as:

“My only freedom, flight of soul / Needs must express / Such a deep felt love for all humanity”

reveal the writer’s deep dedication to conveying universal compassion and connection. The poem’s reflection on poetic craft as a vessel for “inner meaning / Inner truth infused with love” emphasizes love’s power to penetrate beyond words.

Moreover, the poem’s articulation of love as:

“Wisdom plus Integrity / And connects us all / To every single living being, or entity.”

offers readers a fresh lens to understand love’s role in healing and unity. It speaks directly to the shared human condition, inviting readers to embrace love not only emotionally but intellectually and spiritually.

In Conclusion

Elixir Of Love is a beautiful example of the poet’s ability to blend heartfelt emotion with spiritual truth. Its gentle yet powerful voice encourages reflection on what it truly means to love and be loved. For readers drawn to poetry that explores the deeper, sacred aspects of human connection, this poem is a compelling and enriching piece, perfectly aligned with the themes woven throughout the entire collection.

42. First Kiss at London Bridge

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Review of First Kiss

In “First Kiss,” the author continues in the tradition of narrative poetry, delivering a subtle yet emotionally resonant scene of romantic transition, awkward timing, and the complexity of new beginnings. This poem reads like a memory retold in confidence—matter-of-fact in its delivery, yet laced with quiet intimacy, humour, and realism.

The story is clear and unadorned: a chance meeting on a rooftop, a flirtation that sparks conflict, and a relationship that ends to make way for another. But the poem’s strength lies not in grand gestures or romantic idealism—it lies in its refusal to romanticise. This isn’t a fantasy kiss beneath falling cherry blossoms; it’s a kiss at London Bridge station, amid train noise, glasses coming off, and awkward logistics. There’s something deeply human in that—something modern and emotionally raw.

The restrained tone invites the reader to sit in the space between the lines: the discomfort of endings, the giddiness of new connections, the unspoken vulnerabilities wrapped up in moments of physical closeness. The inclusion of small details—the misfit dinner orders, the Japanese word for egg, the rainy night, the bad mattress—elevates the piece beyond mere recollection. These fragments of lived experience become the heartbeat of the narrative, grounding the romance in tangible, awkward, beautiful reality.

Summary of Themes

At its heart, “First Kiss” is about emotional transition, vulnerability, and the imperfections that define human connection. The poem quietly reflects on how relationships begin—not in neat, curated moments, but in the messy overlap between endings and beginnings. The tension between desire and discomfort, between what is said and what is felt, drives the poem forward without needing to overstate its significance.

There’s also an underlying meditation on choice—the quiet agency of a woman navigating two realities, ending one, and stepping (however uncertainly) into another. The tenderness of that first kiss is counterbalanced by the cold, rainy night and the restless sleep that follows. The two truths coexist.

Conclusion

“First Kiss” is a beautifully understated piece that captures the emotional terrain of intimate moments without sentimentality. It speaks to the fragility of beginnings—the little cracks that let light in, even when everything else feels uncertain. With its naturalistic voice, honest detail, and restrained delivery, this poem invites readers to reflect on their own moments of emotional risk, and to remember that even the most imperfect kisses can mark the beginning of something quietly significant.

41. Small World

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Review of “Small World”
Monday 31st July 2006

In “Small World”, the author shifts into the mode of narrative poetry, weaving a delicate, cinematic vignette that captures the sweet ache of serendipity, connection, and unfinished business. Set against the backdrop of a spontaneous house gathering, the poem is rooted in the fleeting beauty of a moment, where two creative souls find themselves drawn together—again. The tone is light, conversational, yet rich in emotional nuance, gently exploring the nature of human chemistry, timing, and the strange ways the universe threads people’s lives together.

The setting is simple: a band in a living room, poetry in the garden, eggs for breakfast. And yet, in that simplicity, something deeper stirs. The rhythm of the narrative mirrors the rhythm of memory, with moments unfolding almost as if remembered in retrospect. The discovery of their previous meeting—marked by a single red carnation—adds a layer of magical coincidence, a motif of recognition that suggests something fated, or at the very least, not random.

Rather than leaning into fantasy, “Small World” remains grounded in realism. There’s no sweeping declaration of romance here, just the quiet, truthful acknowledgement of two lives briefly intersecting, complicated by the entanglements of existing relationships and unfinished chapters. Still, they connect, create, share a bed, share stories, and begin to reweave a shared thread from different parts of their lives.

Summary of Themes

This poem gently explores serendipity, recognition, and emotional realism. It speaks to those uncanny moments when lives overlap and interlace through art, music, place, and memory. The shared language of creativity—singing, guitar playing, poetry—acts as the bridge between the two, a common ground on which their connection unfolds. The “small world” isn’t just geographical; it’s emotional, social, artistic. Their story becomes a quiet echo of so many modern connections: honest, temporary, meaningful.

Conclusion

“Small World” is a beautifully understated portrait of a brief romantic encounter, told with clarity, restraint, and poignancy. It doesn’t promise forever—it doesn’t need to. Instead, it offers a moment of reflection on the importance of fleeting connections, of people who arrive just long enough to stir something within us before life moves on. With its conversational tone and lyrical honesty, this poem will speak to readers who have ever felt the quiet electricity of a serendipitous meeting, and who understand that sometimes, that is enough.

40. Stars In Your Eyes

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Review of “Stars In Your Eyes”

In “Stars In Your Eyes”, the author captures the tender, intimate moments of connection and the fleeting magic of love. The poem is structured in vivid snapshots, each one encapsulating a scene brimming with sensory details and emotional depth. These moments are not merely physical; they are filled with meaning, the kind that only emerges when two people are completely present with one another, free from the distractions of the world around them. From the aftermath of a wild party to quiet moments of love under the sun, this poem invites the reader into a shared space of warmth, intimacy, and mutual affection.

The richness of the poem lies in the sensory experiences it evokes—taste, sight, sound, and touch are all delicately woven into the narrative. Whether it’s the feeling of grass underfoot or the soothing sound of rain during a passionate embrace, the poem emphasizes how deeply love can be felt when we are open to the present moment. The author’s portrayal of mundane yet magical moments—like sipping wine on a rooftop, enjoying laughter with a partner, or sharing a picnic—reminds us of the quiet bliss found in companionship and connection.

Summary of Themes

Stars In Your Eyes explores themes of love, presence, and the small yet significant moments that define a relationship. The speaker embraces not only the physical presence of their partner but also the emotional depth that comes with true intimacy. The imagery of the poem celebrates life’s simple pleasures, from the warmth of the sun to the shared enjoyment of a meal or a quiet laugh. Each stanza shifts through the seasons of a relationship, highlighting the beauty in everyday experiences that often go unnoticed.

Conclusion

The poem Stars In Your Eyes speaks to the heart of what makes a relationship truly special—the shared experiences, the quiet moments of connection, and the deep emotional bond that forms when two souls are in tune with one another. It serves as a reminder to appreciate the fleeting beauty of these moments, to stay present, and to revel in the connection with another that can transform the ordinary into something extraordinary. For readers seeking a celebration of love, intimacy, and joy, this poem offers a perfect reminder that the simple moments can be the most profound.