Rice On White

“Rice On White”

Old tradition;
the grained rain;
drenching dry the
new, ‘Mr. and Mrs.
Together Just Begun’
Wedding’s squall
on a calm June day
Driven across
church steps in
gusty, starch swept dance;
hulled and milled cleats
tapping in Love’s honor,
a matinee performance
to bells’ lofty choirs
joyously rung
in Hope’s harmony
Celebration’s weather
these winds of white;
mating with pearls
and satin, baby’s breath
and layered tulle,
rose boutonnières
and cummerbund sashes;
all shaken off
in ceremonial
‘Just Married’ flight
A few sentimentalists
cling unobserved;
dedicated well into
moon’s love struck night,
sworn to secrecy
between eyelet sheets
and braided souls
First married morn’s
embraced awake,
mementos these
two or three become;
held eternal in a
bridal time capsule
of a white silk pouch...

My mother’s reflections; these.
Her day of rice showers
cared and shared
with her only daughter
Weathering still the storms
of wedding day’s breezes
and wedded life’s gales
with chosen vows’ echoes,
‘for better; for worse’

I admire so this woman!

Together,
turning back layers
of blue tissue curtains
and fifty some years
Silk beginnings
cherishing within its womb
grains of such memories
now seen testimonials
the bride
still his faithful
three grains
still pure white

Dedicated to my Mom~ she, God’s wedding gift to my Dad