Convincing Cupid
By Daniella Kaufman
Word Count: 208

When Cupid first chose Valentine’s
to be his holiday,
he hummed, “I’d love some extra help–
like Santa has his sleigh.”

Then poof within his hands appeared
an arrow and a bow.
“For me?” He asked bewildered
as the bow began to glow.

A voice from nowhere spoke aloud,
PLEASE ASK YOUR QUESTIONS NOW.
Then Cupid thought, I need to prove
these tools are safe. But how?

“Are these for extra help?” he starts.
THEY ARE. IT’S NOT A TRICK.
“Don’t arrows seem a little mean?”
THEY’RE STEALTHY AND THEY’RE QUICK.

“Will people notice they’ve been struck?”
THEY WON’T DETECT THAT PART.
“And where am I supposed to aim?”
The voice replies, THE HEART.

Then Cupid gasped dramatically.
“The heart?! Oh no, no, no!
I’m meant to help, not risk or hurt,
the place where love can grow!”

“There is no question,” he declared,
“I know what I must do.
I’ll test the arrow on myself
to tell me what is true!”

He watched the arrow tap his heart.
It made a gleaming mark.
Though Cupid did not sense its touch,
he felt a sudden spark!

“Of course!” He blushed and sang, “I love
this arrow and this bow!!!”
And on that Valentine’s became
the Cupid people know.