Happy Valentine's Day

I’ve intentionally mixed your initials
in the dough of many names
but the yeast of memory
highlights them in an acronym
that still dazzles me.

From childhood survives a war scenario,
in its shelter I buried
my love for you
fearing it would be destroyed
but I struggle to recognize its disguise.

When others mention you in my presence
I show a mineral indifference
and pretend to be elsewhere
like a vase with a turned crack
facing the void beyond the window.

At the shooting range
I no longer aim for the romantic silhouette
that reminds me of you from behind.
I am not allowed to reveal to whom I belong
even though I always have your name
on the tip of my tongue
like a shot ready to fire
aimed at the height of my heart and
I don’t understand why I always miss you
despite the repeated signal of: “fire!” -Valentino Zeichen