Pas de Deux

 

“Pas de Deux” by William Tolliver

 

 

the music of anger
drifts upward
escaping like steam
from a belly wound
quickly dispersed
free of gravity’s oath
holding both of our
misshapened spheres
in their mutual orbit
a pas de deux
wobbly but danced
through two lifetimes
avowed to keep step
for better or worse
and the better by far
has it evermore been

 

 

(originally posted November 2013)

Living the Vow

“Bride and Groom” by Sali Swalla

commitment is easy on the voice

hardly straining the tongue

barely trembling the lips

but once spoken

ineluctably alters the arc of a life

from the sound of small words

come corporeal large obligations

within beating flesh of the heart

no light fancy attends

the articulate promise

but oh what sheer joy is in store

for its diligent keeping of faith

Winter Nuptials

“Snow Laden Pines” by Richard T. Pranke

gloved evergreen hands
tall sartorial groomsmen
in white tie and tails
escort winter’s bridesmaids to
witness her solemn hushed vows

Tell the World

“Eternity”
Painting by Rachel Asherovitz
From fineartamerica.com

we made a pact

regarding forever

now we know

it is me

who will break it

if never did I

amount to a thing

I was always

a man of my word

tell the world

it was words

those poor locums

we choose

that we ineptly use

to stand in for

what lives

in the heart

it was words

that so failed

in the test

of their faith

not the man

Chauvinist Echo

Henry the Eighth
Illustration by James A. Watkins
From hubpages.com

obey is an odd little word
that consternates modern ears
once featured in Anglican marrying vows
it’s fallen away through the years

it was jolly old Henry the eighth
put it into the mouths of Brit brides
it gave him excuse to lop off the heads
of his less than obedient wives