Animal Valentines

By Sandra Liatsos

What do I like

On my valentines?

Leopards and lions

And porcupines,

Racing or roaring

Or shooting their quills

Like arrows from Cupid.

It gives me a thrill

To count them and mount them

Along my wall

And let them parade

From my bed to the hall.

Lace hearts are the ones

I prefer the least.

I’d much rather have

The brave hearts of my beasts.

Illustrated by Shauna Mooney