- Volume 8 -

A collection of verse

 by Dahni

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Dedication -

 To:

 Those that Love

Lovers

and

the love of a lifetime

  Dahni

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Preface

 By Dahni

   I asked Arman if I might write a few words here at this beginning of this work.  He allowed me this opportunity and I appreciate it greatly.  To begin, I want to thank Arman for his faithfulness, expertise and friendship.  You are the BEST Arman!

    From time to time I have the chance to meet new wonderful people and re-meet them.  Sometimes we are able to chat online somewhere in the world of the Internet.  People there are often anonymous for varied reasons I suppose?  They use different names, identities and even pictures.  Often some wonder if I do the same?  I just want you to know that I am truly Dahni and if you see my picture somewhere it's me.  My words in any format are as much a part of me as the mug I've got.  For better or worse or indifferent, I am what I am.

    This collection of poetry was a joy to write, but I often had brain cramps trying to finish it.  How does one ever finish with love?  Happily with help and after thinking this collection was done, (after four tries) the situation was resolved for me.  This is why I wanted to write here to you.  So many people throughout my life have deeply touched me.  Perhaps some of you have heard me say or have seen it written, that I write for others?  I really do!  I can't explain this really, but in a sense I am a part of everyone that has ever touched me or I have ever touched.  If in this reading you feel moved, touched or loved, it is from these gifts given to me, from the many, many others like you! 

    It was my heart to dedicate many of these poems to individuals.  Believe it or not, part of the reason I had difficulty in finishing this work was due to always-another person.  Yes, there always seemed to be another person who came up in my heart and I needed to write another poem.  Another challenge encountered was a question to myself.  "Dahni, how are you ever going to write a poem for everyone you deeply love?"  Sadly, I realized this could NEVER be done!  The best I could do was the best that I could do.  If I have left anyone out it is NOT because you were forgotten.  You are in my special dedications somewhere.  You are in my words.  You are in my heart.  You are in my love and you truly are, for whom I write!

    It is my greatest joy to think that somewhere in this collection, something will touch you, move you, love you!  If this is found to be the case, please do this for me?  Reach out and love someone. In so doing, it is as if I am reaching out to every one of you. It will be as if I am giving to you each, a hug, a handshake, a high-five, a kiss or whatever would be appropriate to you!  Whatever the gesture, remember these.  Poetry is life and…

 Dahni loves Yah!

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Forward

 By Arman Sicova, editor for I-Magine Publications

   Once again it is both a great joy and privilege for me to be here.  There are many reasons for this.  First of all, as an editor I must say that my work as editor for Deep Waters Productions is relatively easy.  This is especially so of Dahni's works, for his spelling and grammar is meticulous.  Dahni himself edits his own work.  This is often difficult for an artist to do, but Dahni so wants everything to be the best that he drives himself to excel.  Often the only things I need to consult with Dahni about are individual words.  Dahni loves words and to play with words.  He often-even makes up new ones when language seems to fail to express what he endeavors to communicate.  Language often fails us as a tool for communication.  He understands this and I believe this is another reason for his new words.  Though it may not be clear to every reader, Dahni diligently searches out figures of speech.  A figure of speech is a legitimate grammatical usage of words, which make a literal statement truer, than the literal statement of fact or the laws governing language and structure.  An example of a literal statement would be, the ground is dry.  If one employs figures of speech we could see this more clearly.  An example of this would be, the ground is thirsty. 

    Figures of speech are an exact science and an art.  The ancient Greeks used and catalogued over 225 figures.  Very, very few (perhaps only forty) are even taught today in the Ph.D. courses of our Universities.  It amazes me of Dahni's knowledge and command of these, especially since he never completed college.  I know he would not mind me saying this.  I asked him.

    I know Dahni would mind, me writing here about a rather harsh rebuke he received from an editor in San Francisco.  The letter criticizing one of his poems was misspelled, poorly written and offered no honest edification, encouragement or suggested corrections.  Not only did Dahni not want me to respond to this man; he did not want me to write anything about the incident here.  His concerns were in protecting the man's identity. Despite the words of this so-called editor, Dahni is one of the most genuine, able, talented and loving of persons I have ever met. 

    Despite Dahni's concerns, this is what I do and this is my space.  Guess what?  Dahni dedicated one of the poems in this collection to the editor referred to above.  No one will likely know his name, but I will make sure he receives a copy.  I do not know what you may call these actions of Dahni, but I call it heart and love!  Dahni realizes not everyone can be pleased all the time and that everyone has their own opinions and is entitled to them.  He fights for the freedom of expression!  In a collection about love, I find it so necessary to write these things here.  Perhaps you might be wondering why? 

    All Dahni seeks to do is to build up and not to tear down people with words, which was clearly the antithesis of this so-called editor.  Dahni is not about ego.  He is not even about money.  He is not hurt if people do not like something he has written.  He is deeply hurt when he believes he has failed to touch, to heal, to help or to love anyone!  Having said these things, blown off steam if you will, I can now move to the 'heart' of this wonderful work itself.

    'Love Notes' is many things and I am confident it will become many things to many people.  Love is Dahni's favorite study and subject.  I use the word 'study' for Dahni would call himself, "…just a student of love."  I believe he is much more than a student.  He captures in this collection so many of the symbols, so common to us all.  Carved initials in the tree, roses and other flowers, passion, moons and stars, songs, and so many things we associate with romance and being in love.

    Love Notes goes even deeper than the common and familiar things about love.  Love is neither common nor familiar, but a wonder and a mystery.  Dahni delves into many of these wonders and mysteries.  Love Notes is not just sweet as romance can be, but it takes on the many questions, fears and challenges, we often face within the bonds of love.

    Love is like electricity that can both heal and hurt with its absence or loss.  Love notes drives even deeper.  It goes beyond the expressions of love seen in gifts, gestures and actions, to the thinking, reasons and motivations for these.  It embraces the why and how of love.  Love Notes goes even deeper still.

    Dahni poses questions of deserving/not deserving love and even HOW to keep love ever growing brighter.  In this work, Dahni asks within the poems themselves, that if we can experience such rich love, why cannot the emotions and passion and desire continue to escalate, throughout the life of a forever love?  This is beautifully set within the poem, 'Wall-Heart'.  This particular poem was actually written first in another collection, but was so appropriate to be included here.

    If you are not aware of this, I want you all to know this now.  Dahni constantly works on many projects concurrently and consecutively.  He is an artist, composer, poet and writer.  He has little time to rejoice in completed works and there is always so much more that he seeks to do.  I have seen him so excited like the poem here called 'Little Child'!  His animation was due to not having finished a project, but of being free to work on something else.  He grew more and more frustrated towards the end of this work.  No less than four times did he think he had finished this, only to write even more.  It seemed to him that it could not be finished.  I asked why he thought this was so difficult (after he finally was satisfied it had been resolved).  His answers surprised me.

   Almost every poem in this collection is dedicated to others.  Dahni always had someone else in mind he wanted to write for.  There was always another he wanted to thank for their "kiss" into his life, of their lives.  He felt powerless to write for everyone without having volumes and still never able, to name them all.  His other opportunity was with the tile itself.  "How do I ever finish writing love notes," he asked?  Still another friend and wonderful poet with whom he shared these things, both inspired the final two poems here and solved the matter completely for Dahni. These two poems are dedicated to this same person.  It is within the next sentences that encapsulate both this work and the writer himself.

   Upon seeing the last two poems, the lady for whom they are dedicated, (Dahni always sends or reads the poems first, to those he specifically writes them for), instantly and lovingly, requested copies.  The reason was not that they were dedicated to her, but they captured something she wanted to share with another!  This dear friend is the sum and substance of both 'Love Notes' and Dahni himself.  Love Notes and Dahni are to be shared and as the last line of the last poem reads, "to be continued!"

    I have here perhaps, said too much for you the reader, but certainly not enough about this work or its author!  Enjoy this collection and share it freely.  Put 'Love Notes' everywhere!  Go carve love into as many hearts as possible.  Life is a precious gift, but love and passion gives us wings, hope, color and fragrance.  Excuse me please, I have just received another love note myself.

 Deeply,

 Arman

 PS  Dahni loves to play.  In this work are many things hidden.  Hidden names and meanings, titles of collections he has already written and those in progress.  He is very adamant about themes and things associating and connecting.  Perhaps one day he will share all these hidden things?  I asked him about these.  He just grinned at me with that Cheshire cat smile, like the one from Lewis Carrol's Alice in Wonderland.  Perhaps others can figure these out and share them in a Love Note?

 A.

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