Cupid's writing

When it comes to expressions of love, there's nothing like having a written testament of someone's admiration for you. But sometimes finding the right words that reflect how much you care doesn't come so easily. To inspire you to pen a loving letter for the keeper of your heart, read the following examples, excerpted from The Book of Love Letters, (McClelland & Stewart, 2005). Whether for a lover, a friend or a family member, choose today to write and share your sweet sentiments.

A song of joy
Internationally known conductor, pianist, and organist Sir Ernest MacMillan and his wife, Elsie, always referred to June 25, 1913, as their "day of revelation." On that day, Ernest, who was only nineteen, was leaving to work for the summer as an organist at a resort on the Saguenay River in Quebec. Before boarding a steamer that would take him through Lake Ontario and up the St. Lawrence River, he went to say goodbye to Elsie Keith, a modern-languages student at the University of Toronto, who was his German tutor. In that moment of parting, the pair confessed their love for one another and agreed to announce their engagement when he returned.

Kingston [a steamer]
June 25th, 1913

Meine Geliebte [my beloved]:
This is my first attempt at a love-letter, so if you find any faults in it, they may be set down to inexperience and -- may I hope it? -- be pardoned. Dearest, I am still a little dazed by the events of today (and it will always be a red-letter day in my life) but the one fact that stands out dear & glorious is, that you return the love which I have so long felt for you. And I cannot begin to say how great that love is. If you only knew how constantly you have been in my thoughts, particularly during the past winter, and if you realized what you have meant in my life ever since I first met you, you might begin to form an idea of what my love is. And I know, darling, that your love for me, though new-born, is no less than mine for you. Oh, Elsie, can there be anything more glorious in God's earth than a strong & steadfast mutual love? I thank God for your love & for you & I only pray that I may prove worthy of it.

Mr. Gibson is an interesting companion, but I did not want to talk to anyone for any length of time, so I excused myself, & retired to my stateroom, where behold me being in a rather unromantic but comfortable position on my stomach in the upper berth with no thoughts save of you. And now, although I have so much to say I can think of nothing but to repeat -- I love you, I adore you. Don't forget to tell me the same when you write, because I cannot hear it too often.

Absence may make the heart grow fonder, but under the circumstances don't you think, Elsie mine, that separation for us is a great shame? It reminds me of the little poem -- "Platonic" -- where the two "friends" found out that they loved one another just as they had to part. I shall always love that poem, & hope to hear you recite it soon.

You know, sweetheart, you seem so different since I told you of my love, & yet you are the same dear little woman I have so long adored. You are not perfect thank Heaven, but there is not a feature of you that I should wish to see changed. I love everything about you, but nothing more than your complete sincerity and openness. I could imagine you doing anything rather than deceiving any one. And this augurs well for our future, dear, because only the most complete frankness between us will prove to be in the interests of our happiness.

I told you, Elsie mine, that I was frightened of you, & it is true in a sense. I never realized until today all that love means to a woman, and I tremble lest I should prove unworthy of your affections. I suppose that together with complete sincerity, great tact must be used between lovers, and I should hate to think that I might inadvertently hurt you by some thoughtless remark or action. Now, dearest, I want you never to fail in telling me if I ever do anything which you do not like. What I want is always to please you in every way I can.

I am sure you must feel as I do the responsibility we have taken upon ourselves, but a love like ours will bear any load, & our happiness will certainly be assured...

...more love than you can imagine goes with this letter; love for your mother & father & all the rest; love even for Prince & the cat (love me, love my dog!) and -- I can never begin to say how much love for your own dear self.

Thine always,
Ernest