Epithalamium

 A poem written in honor of the bride and groom. 


         Advice (I see you rolling your eyes)

There will come days when you say
I don’t love him any more – love him anyway,
for love is a choice you make–everyday.

There will come a day when you stop
gazing constantly into her eyes,
be sure, then, you both are looking in the same direction.

Laugh. Laugh a lot. Laugh with each other and
at yourself. Have private jokes and keep them that way.
Laughter is a healing thing.

The grass, sometimes, is greener on the other side,
your own yard a little neglected.
Get the fertilizer out and work on it.

Cleave to one another but know when you marry a mountain boy,
you marry the mountain. Parents have needs.
Holidays can be torture. Take turns – work it out.

Put the needs of marriage first. Be quick to forgive, love extravagantly,
compromise when you can and be submissive to each other.
Pray for each other.

It’s like writing a book – hard work, lots of decisions, twists, conflicts.
But, when it’s on the bestselling list – worth it!
May the one you write together be epic .