I like this poem because, even though it’s romantic, i.e., written by a man to a woman, I think it can be applied to other love relationships.  You just need to adapt it a little — take some poetic license, maybe? 

I am dedicating this poem to Manny R., a friend from one of the prostate cancer support groups and a wise man, a scientist, who is lucky enough to have had a longstanding, loving relationship with his wife.  And he’s not shy about talking about it.  

I am also hoping to write a piece about Manny’s tight bond with his brother, who is gone now.  Both men battled PC.  And Manny’s brother  served in World War II.  Manny related to me how, even now, his brother’s wartime identification number (the one he used to write letters) from sixty years ago sometimes pops into his head.  Even though it has umpteen digits!  

Manny must have a big heart, because it has room for so many people.

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i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)

i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

– e. e. cummings