Where gilded autumn dazzles hazy morning And golden leaves sprinkle on marigold beams As sparrows dance and hummingbirds sing Amble in my shadows on blue river’s prairies. Tell me treacly secrets of whispering winds Befriending sweet nectar on butterfly wings When you hear me in lyrics of heartbeats And sing me the hymns, in verses of dreams. When twilight paints blush of the evening Flirting with tangerine sunset on skyline pink Sprinkling gold-dust on pulsating ripples Show me the amber sun dipping in water. Watching the night sky in symphony of stars As sensuous flames ignite echoes of romance Caress my desires in embrace of your heart And compose me playfully in intimate allegory. When I want to hear it, tell me you need me Be my spring season, when my winter haunts me Be my only reason, if you say you love me Say it like it’s pure love, say it like you mean it. December 3, 2019 Poem of the day on December 5, 2019 Placed first: Strand select contest 1 by Brian Strand Love me like you mean it poetry contest Sponsor: Julie Leigh Rodeheaver