My Perfect Match

My Perfect Match by Valerie Parente

I always had
a flicker of hope in my heart
and when we met
I felt that spark.

It all makes perfect sense
when I look back
that I was struck
by my perfect match.

Fire always scared me
but not with you, my twin flame,
and if it all burned down
I wouldn’t be afraid,
if it all burned down with you
I’d only notice the glow on your face.

– Valerie Parente (12-13-2025)

Never A Stranger

Never A Stranger by Valerie Parente

They say when you fall in love
you fall in love with a stranger
but you were never a stranger
I dreamt of you every night
you were never absent
you were just out of sight.

I always felt you
even when the world was pitch black
you were a spark of light
my perfect match
lighting the way
so that we could cross paths.

They say you fall in love with a stranger
but there is nothing strange about it.
I’ve been led here today by the belief
that I’d recognize you in a room so crowded
and I was right to live for this anomaly
because I knew how strange it wasn’t.

– Valerie Parente (7-24-2025)