Valentine's Hangover

One of the regular readings/open mic's I attend at The Writer's Place is tonight. This month, the event has been named Valentine's Hangover. When I began to think about what I might read during the open mic segment, I decided I should write something new with the same name as the event. Here is my version of a

Valentine's Hangover

Hearts that

once held

center stage

sit in

shopping carts

marked with

50 percent

off signs.

Greeting cards

purchased in

anticipation of

reciprocation

lie in

the trash

without

a mate.

Leftovers

from a

romantic

dinner

sit in

the 'frig

likely to

go to waste.

The weight of

"might have been"

or

"used to be"

bears down now

but is carried

year round.