The legend says ST. VALENTINE
Was in a prison 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 the violet's velvet leaves
He pierced these lines 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 through prison 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 GREATER
Than the strongest prison bar.
Helen Steiner Rice