DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: Last week I heard the doorbell and opened the door quickly without really looking outside. It was the kid who lived next door before he went away to university. He’s back for a little while — and looking like a rock star.

He used to play in a local band, but he never looked the part while he lived with his parents. Now this “kid” is so hot-looking and pumped up, he’s dangerous.

I invited him in from the cold and gave him a coffee. He was all about asking to see my daughter, but she was in class at the university — and thank God. If she gets a look at the new him with his hair, earrings and tattoos, her dad and I are in trouble.

He’s home for a whole month. What can I do to warn my daughter away?

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My six-foot-three boyfriend eats like a horse. If I ate as much as he does, I would weigh 300 pounds. Sometimes I’m so surprised watching him, I just stop eating, mid-chew.

My mother is amazed when he comes over for Sunday dinner, especially after a sports practice. When she counts up how many people are coming to eat, she counts him as two people.

Frankly, half the time I don’t know whether I’m bragging or complaining about him. His mother says it cost her a fortune to feed him as a teenager when he was playing on several teams at once. It was a big relief to the family food budget when he finally moved out.

She says it would cost a lot to marry him and have sons who eat like him, but I like his giant size. I get a little thrill when he picks me up and carries me upstairs to bed at his place. It’s OK to be in love with a giant. But when ignorant people say we look funny together, I don’t know what to say to them. Please advise.

National Poetry Month may not kick off until April, but there’s lots to chew on in the meantime when it comes to poetry-related news.

The Griffin Poetry Prize revealed the 10-book long list for the $130,000 award on March 25, with Canadian scribes shut out from the group of finalists.

The prize, which originated in Canada, is the most lucrative single award for poets. In past years there were two $65,000 awards handed out annually — one for a Canadian book of poetry, and another for an international volume. The two were combined in 2023.

Among the poets longlisted for this year’s prize are Marissa Davis (End of Empire), Ange Mlinko (Foxglovewise), Kevin Young (Night Watch) and Emily Wilson (Burnt Mountain). The five-book short list will be revealed April 22 and the winner announced on June 3. For a complete list of longlisted poets see griffinpoetryprize.com/finalists.