The Guardian of Love - Joan Shepherd

A beautiful blond goddess and her earthly man

Were hit by Cupid’s arrow some time ago

Over Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate lovers

They flew to San Francisco then came to my town 

I gave them a glass of champagne and a bed

A tour the next day while he gazed at her beauty

Rubbing her arm, nuzzling her neck

The earthling and a goddess

On a short break from work

In a romantic city over Valentine’s Day

Three weeks after their short vacation

The Guardian of Love made a visit

Without them being aware they were being evaluated

Checking if their love was genuine, as they professed

The Guardian of Love put his observations

In the machine he invented, with a needle that moved

On the dial that tells her, “Does he love me or does he not”

And for him, the same. 

The Earthing was evaluated first.

The machine’s needle seemed uncertain, back and forth 

Between two points, does he love her or does he not

Raising the question if his love for her was real.

Then the Godess

The needle seemed to be firm at 12 o’clock

Pointing neither to he right nor the left

Only to be interpreted as “maybe”

Maybe she loved him and maybe she needed him

So much in common, both divorced, both nurses  

They looked good together

Him holding her, touching her

As if to see if she was real, if he was so lucky

To find a goddess next to him

How could she not love him?

But the Guardian wasn’t fooled with superficial actions

The needle stayed at 12 o’clock, neither yes or no

And decided this earthly handsome man was not sincere

But the earthling didn’t even know it 

And she didn’t realize if it was love or need

The Guardian of Love, wanting to make sure

Only true lovers were qualified to get his stamp of approval

Checking for the earthling if she loved him 

Had more difficulty with the blond goddess

She wanted love, needed love, and could give it in return

She deserved to be loved, a troublesome marriage

Where drugs became a necessity for him

 to maintain his irresponsible behavior

While she worked professionally and being a mother.

Yes, she deserved to be loved this time

But this earthly man wasn’t the right one

And the Guardian of Love could not give
his stamp of approval.

Yesterday, she called me, this lovely blond goddess

Sniffing her way through a gasping conversation.

The earthling had called her 

Said they were on different paths

He wouldn’t be seeing her anymore

The Guardian of Love and his invented machine

Had made the right prediction.