A Prose Poem for My Valentine:

Remembering the Walk in the Park--

Steel, Architecture, and the Diversity of Fishes

by R. O. Weber

Looking up, I could not see the sky as you did your ministrations while scaring bird and rattling bush. From that wet ground, I saw only you. Stronger than our inhibitions, our ardor took dominion and I hung on for dear life thinking of anything and everything to prolong your wide smile. Steel was a worthy and fitting thought. It was blasted from earthy ores, forged in heat, tempered in water, hammered, polished and delivered to the site where a new foundation was to be born. I inventoried my goods.

H-beam, I-beam, channel, and rod that I would arrange into a building, without equal, an offering to you on that damp morning as you, without equal, arrange on to me. I became an architect and responded only to you. Beam onto beam, I welded and riveted and that skeleton rose to dizzying heights where it swayed that ancient sway, that sensuous dance, of buildings in the wind. Now it’s time for the joyous act of completion.

Each room on each floor was painted and wired and plumbed and the building glowed from people on fire with excitement and shouting, “Bravo, bravo, behold this masterpiece.” I instructed the growing masses to explore every room on every floor and make it their home forever. They raced to the penthouse to see the luxury and feel the smooth marble walls warmed by their presence.

My design was complex with great stresses to counter and great prizes to win as great architects often do.

For you, my true love, I gave everything. I built a great building, a monument to you, rising to a sky I could not see.

Then, I pondered the diversity of fishes.

R. O. Weber is an avid reader and sometimes writer. His stories have appeared in various internet and print publications under various pen names. He enjoys a good story of almost any genre and lives for the day when zombie stories are just a footnote in history.