Blog-of-the-month: Come on, tell us. What are your passions?

February is here, that month of hearts burning to burnish romantic love relationships. What if February became a month celebrating all types of love? Why not send Valentine’s cards to everyone, not just our sweetie, as we used to do in grade school? What are the loves and passions of your life? Comment below to…

Black Valentine’s Series #7: Cuddled Prayers Couples Linda Jones Hawkins & Charles Hawkins

Our Black Valentine’s Series concluded with the love story of Linda Jones Hawkins and Charles Hawkins. I met the couple at the 2007 Kwanzaa celebration in St. Louis. Linda showed me her beautiful poems and paintings, while Charles stood by, beaming. You’ve been reading three of Linda’s love poems in the last few days. Linda…

Black Valentines Series #6: Love poem “Post Pinnacle,”by Linda Jones Hawkins

Post Pinnacle by Linda Jones Hawkins © January 2008 I now have love Tucked sweetly on my pillowslip It enfolds me It comforts me It sustains me And it delights me, I arise knowing my journey Has been stretched a bit more To accommodate his girth and gentle Kind of loving. I now move through…

Black Valentine Series: #5 Linda Jones Hawkins New Poem “20 Second Loving”

Linda Jones Hawkins is no stranger to Riehlife as a contributor. See yesterday’s “A Special Valentine Note of Love” dedicated to her mother and sister, Karen and Dorothy. Later in the week you’ll see a Love Bird profile of Linda and her husband Charles. –JGR ________________________________________ 20 SECOND LOVING by Linda Jones Hawkins Not just…

Black Valentine Series: #4, Valentine poem by Linda Jones Hawkins, for her mother and sister

In honor of the combination of Black History Month and Valentine’s Day week, I’m running a “Black Valentine” series to profile vibrant Black couples and individuals I’ve met in St. Louis. I met Linda and her husband Charles at a Kwanzaa celebration where she was showing her art. Since then, we’ve met several times in…

Black Valentine Series: #3 George and Marcia Williams (Gifted Productions)…40 years of romance during the easy times and hard times, too

In honor of the combination of Black History Month and Valentine’s Day week, I’m running a “Black Valentine” series to profile several of the most vibrant Black couples I’ve met in St. Louis. I met Marcia at a Black Community Empowerment Workshop run by Howard Denson of the Black Pages. Marcia is the creative drive…

Black Valentine’s Series: #2 Carlos & Sylvia Jenkins–Romantic Entreprenuers

In honor of the combination of Black History Month and Valentine’s Day week, I’m running a “Black Valentine” series to profile several of the most vibrant Black couples I’ve met in St. Louis. I met Carlos and Sylvia Jenkins at the Missouri History Museum evening featuring Ron Himes. Carlos and Sylvia run CJS Vision 500,…

Black Valentine Series: #1 The Denson’s Shared Passion Keeps Love Alive in Long Marriage

In honor of the combination of Black History Month and Valentine’s Day week, I’m running a “Black Valentine” series to profile several of the most vibrant Black couples I’ve met in St. Louis. We begin with Howard and Vickie Denson, the force behind the St. Louis Black Pages. Howard is an art collecting maven of…