Sunday Morning Peace

The Legend of the Valentine

The story of Saint Valentine
is a legend, it is true.
But legends are delightful
and very lovely too.

And the legend of Saint Valentine
imprisioned in a cell
Thinking of his little flock
he had always loved so well
And wanting to assure them
of his friendship and his love,
He picked a bunch of violets
and sent them by a dove.

And on th violets' velvet leaves
he pierced these line divine
That simply said, "I love you."
and "I'm your Valentine."
So through the years that followed
from that day unto this
Folks still send messages of love
and seal them with a kiss.

Because a saint in prison
reached outside his bars one day
And picked a bunch of violets
and sent them out to say,
That faith and love can triumph
no matter where you are,
For faith and love are greter
Than the strongest prison bar.
     --Helen Steiner Rice