An Old Beer Bottle

A Heart of Gold

It's an old beer bottle
with a heart of gold. There's a lot
of defeat in those shoulders,
sprinkled with dandruff, battered
by years of huddling up
with good buddies, out of the wind.

This is no throwaway bottle.
Full of regret and sad stories,
here it comes, back into your life
again and again, ready to stand
in front of everyone you know
and let you peel its label off.

Now, from the wet formica tabletop,
it lifts its sweet old mouth to yours.

by Ted Kooser


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Not sure that I could name my favorite Kooser Valentine poem, but the one above stands pretty tall. The last stanza is fabulous. Love the image he writes. Yesterday's page explains his book and my fondness for it. Ten days till Valentines. I can hardly wait!

Good night from Southern California.
Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka