‘I luv U’, just ain’t love!

In this age of text messaging and e-mailing the fine art of letter writing seems all but forgotten, relegated to the land of dreamers away from the dynamic world of the high fliers.

The saddest casualty is the venerable love letter, so lovingly handwritten. How on earth could you SMS thoughts so precious, so profound, and so tenderly eloquent? No way, with their crazy spellings and contractions – “Hi! Zee U @ MC, Luv U”. Ghastly, isn’t it?

Not the balladeer’s love letters in the sand but an adventure of pure love. First the search for proper stationery. The finely serrated or gilt-edged sheets, beautifully printed in baby-soft colours on water marked vellum or fine linen paper, some faintly perfumed and envelopes to match.

Then the search for words - nothing seems rich enough to express the flow of emotions. You tussle and wrangle with your head and heart and finally come up with a lyrical masterpiece! Ah! As satisfying as love itself.

Not just something to erase off at the press of a button. But to be read over and over and preserved lovingly wrapped up in delicate lace with a drop or two of lavender, perhaps. Secretly tucked away from prying and admonishing eyes.

SMS may be good enough for electing a president or a superstar or even in selecting the new seven wonders. But it’s utterly inadequate in the realm of love and romance. And decidedly so.

By Asoka Weerakoon, Kandy