Some friends who attended my daughter Kate’s wedding in July told me they had misplaced the program for a Wedding to Remember. I referred them to Kate for a replacement program to keep as a souvenir. They also told me they thought that it would be worthwhile for non-attenders to see the poem included in the program. Kate had asked me to write something for some friends of hers to recite at the church ceremony in lieu of the second reading. Three of these friends had, a few years back, written and performed a theatre piece based upon a poem trilogy I had written some time earlier - under Kate’s direction. They liked what I had come up with, and went on to perform it gracefully and movingly at the ceremony. Consistent with the rest of my ‘for fun’ collaborations, the readers have been dubbed the Meadowlark Ensemble. They are; Amber Mills, Jennifer McNaughton, Jessica Liadsky, and Courtney Evans. Love ya’ girls! I’ll get back to the songs and the book soon, but in the meantime, by request (but consistent with my vanity!) I present the following:

ETERNALLY

We will be walking forever
So we cannot tire
From the few short steps
Of the miracle mile
That led to now
From the moment that we met.

I can’t remember
The years yet to come
Until I sit by the bank
Of the river of dreams,
The Jordan between
The worn-down embrace
Of a family’s blessing,
And the Promised Land
Of nothing more nor less
Than long-looking back
On the golden dream years
Of me and you,
As might be,
We will be.
Won’t we?

We will be walking together
Whichever whatever
From the door of the church
Of the secret heart
That fed until now
On the notion of no regret.

I can’t forget
The work yet to do
Before we lie on the bed
Of the rest in our lives,
The journey across
The wind-up clock
Of a feast and a famine,
And the cherished chime
Of the sweet carillon,
Time’s dusty toxin
Still slow-time talking
Of you and me,
As must be,
As will be,
Eternally.