The Romantic Heart of Men

One of the reasons ~ among the many *sigh and be still my beating heart* reasons ~ I have a passion for watching Adrian Paul perform as an actor, especially in the TV Highlander series, is because he possesses a romantic heart. It’s apparent in his presence on screen and how he portrays the various historical incarnations of Duncan Macleod. Believe me, it’s not just superb acting. And, omygoodness, who couldn’t fall in love?
Oh, and I love how Adrian Paul’s character picks up a bodice ripper romance novel and begins reading, in one ending scene of the long-gone TV show ‘Tracker’ ~ he plays an alien who has to learn how to survive and live on Earth, since he’s co-opted a male model’s body.
Yes, I definitely have a huge weakness for an alpha male who is also a romantic at heart. I can’t help it. I don’t want to help it. And I love writing those type of heroes.
Ever since I discovered some men (other than the heroes in romance novels) actually do possess a romantic side, a very delicious romantic side, I’ve been fascinated and have been discovering more about how they tick, how they think and feel.
If you’ve ever heard or read the love letters the Civil War soldiers sent home to their wives and sweethearts, you’ll understand why my heart waxes poetic over the romantic heart of men.
Some will contend a romance novel hero can’t be truly alpha if he turns a pretty phrase. I beg to differ. For example, a true man who desires a woman will want to please her. If poetry is one way to her heart and soul, he will woo her with words that express his feelings. Of course, always beware the silver-tongued devil who only plans to use and abuse you... or the heroine.
I recall a university study done some ten or so years ago, maybe longer. Men were interviewed about why they loved their wives. And asked, what was it about their spouses they loved the most? It seems, to the surprise of those running the study, a lot of men were more than willing to write pages on how much they loved their wives. A lot of it was pure prose and poetry. Of course, the wives were often shocked when they read these ‘love letters’ because their husbands had never expressed their feelings in such depth, or in such a romantic way.
When I was involved in doing transformational work, during the eighties, one of the discoveries brought forth in the seminar discussions, was how truly romantic men are, whether they know it or not. In fact, there are some who believe, from the analysis work they’ve done, that men, by nature, are more romantic than women in some ways.
Certainly, if the Regency era attire of men Linda blogged beautifully about, is anything to go by, I would say this is a definite demonstration of the romantic, yet virile man. And as a personal comment, I wouldn’t mind seeing more of that in our current world. Not at all. Wouldn’t we as women enjoy being wooed a bit more? And, wouldn’t that make this is a happier lovelier world, overall?
One reason for this blog topic... Okay, I’m deep inside the male mind of my hero, Trail, in my current WIP ~ STALLION OF ASH AND FLAME. This is my first attempt at writing an entire story only from the hero’s point of view. While Trail is not a poetry-crooning romantic, as some of my previous heroes have been, he definitely has his romantic notions. Best of all, his romantic heart is inspired by the heroine.
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A splendid example of the romantic heart of men is this poem from my favorite Romantic Poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Love's Philosophy

The fountains mingle with the river,
And the rivers with the ocean;
The winds of heaven mix forever,
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one another's being mingle;--
Why not I with thine?

See! the mountains kiss high heaven,
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister flower would be forgiven,
If it disdained it's brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth,
And the moonbeams kiss the sea;--
What are all these kissings worth,
If thou kiss not me?

- Percy Bysshe Shelley
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And for some romantic fun, this is my inspired version ~

The clouds kiss the rivers with their rain,
And the rivers spill their love into the seas;
The wandering breezes stroke every terrain,
They wish to sweetly please;
Nothing born of heaven is ever alone;
Yet always seeks its mate
Whether desire of flesh or as spiritual tone –
Or by a mutual longing fate.

Hear! The thunder’s savage passion,
And storm winds as they tempest dance;
So like lovers embraced in frenzied motion,
Lost in the lightning of their romance;
Their kisses golden and strong as the sun,
Their coupling caught in moonbeams –
Their hushed words heard in heaven,
And, their hearts beating with dreams.

~ Savanna Kougar

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Savanna Kougar

~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~