To the Gals in My Life – All of You, Young and the Young at Heart

  So think of this as my version of Julio and Willie’s song, “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before … sort of. Big difference, it’s not merely past tense but present as well. It’s meant to be a special Valentine tribute to “my ladies”  -- a way to say how much you’ve meant to my life, each in your own way – and still do.

You brought real beauty to my life, not the store bought variety

Or the kind you get from the gym

(Though of course some gals often spend

A lot of time thinking about their shape)

Me Too!

But I digress … as I’m known to do

For I must confess

If that was all you had going for you

I could say, “Hey, you look great” or another phrase that flatters

Leave it at that, as if that’s all that really matters

Of course if I did then I’d hardly be sending this e-mail

To someone who’s simply just another female

Nope, there’s a genuine, wonderful loveliness inside

That makes the outer beauty mean so much more

There’s all the laughter, the magic, the honesty

The kindness, compassion, sheer delight and almost

At times, childlike spirit of each of you,

Just being who you are

And that of course frees me up

To be the man I want to be

The insecure one, at times, who lives there inside of me

No need to pretend with you

I know I can depend on you

To love me anyway

Despite my flaws and “off-the-wall” style

You accept me and support me

Though you can’t tell it

(Since I’m not exactly the Cheshire cat

When it comes to expressions like that)

My heart is wearing a great big smile

Indeed, knowing you has made all the difference

Made this journey of mine so worthwhile

You are the fairer sex, so the cliché declares

Truly with you I’ve my fair share of moments

When you showed

(And not by words alone)

How much you cared

A gift like that, you can’t mass produce

You can’t demand, you can’t buy

Nor can you fully express your thanks

Though with this bit of verse

I’m giving it a “Gagliardi” try

I’m just your “not so average, slightly weird, prone to poetic

Inclined to speak his mind and gush a bit

Kind of guy”

Who prefers ten words when it comes to three

But you know well enough

How much I love words

Putting them here, putting them there

Making them fit in creatively

Yet to break this all down

It’s a simple thing

(And by the length of things

Probably overdue)

Time to pause and say on this Valentine’s Day

To each and every gal of mine

I LOVE YOU!

George Gagliardi, February, 2014