by
“Falling in love is very real, but I used to shake my head when people talked about soul mates, poor deluded individuals grasping at some supernatural ideal not intended for mortals but sounded pretty in a poetry book. Then, we met, and everything changed, the cynic has become the converted, the sceptic, an ardent zealot.” Brushstrokes of a Gadfly
These responses to the last Wednesday Writing Prompt, the bride wore yellow, October 31, 2018 give us a peek into perspectives, ideals, joys, challenges, complexities, and disappointments in weddings, marriage and relationships. Well done and much thanks to Billy Antonio, Gary W. Bowers, Irma Do, Deb y Felio (Debbie Felio), Jen E. Goldie, Sonja Benskin Mesher, and Anjum Wasim Dar. Special thanks to Irma and Anjum for including artwork. Bravo!
In addition to their words, I’ve included links to blogs or websites where available. I hope you’ll visit these poets and get to know their work better. It is likely you can catch up with others via Facebook.
Enjoy! … and do come out to play tomorrow for the next Wednesday Writing Prompt.
aged wine…
the couple renew
their vows
© 2018, Billy Antonio
Laoac, Pangasinan, Philippines
veil required
the groom-to-be
would just not be
dissuaded:
he had to have
a bride who had
a veil.
and thus and sewn
a veil was grown;
it shaded
his beauty’s face
her Wordless Grace
so pale.
all words were said.
she raised her head
he lifted
the nylon net
revealing
radiant
joy.
their loops arrived,
and, uncontrived
and gifted,
that mellow Kiss–
that This–
was Girl
and
Boy.
© 2018, Gary W. Bowers (One With Clay, Image and Text)
Marriage Bound – A Cascade Poem
We signed this paper
We are legally bound
The hard work begins
We climbed the steps and waited in line
On our lunch hour
We signed this paper
That night we fought
You slept on the couch
We are legally bound
Morning came
You made me coffee
The hard work begins
Another cascade poem about a relationship, this one responding to Jamie Dedes’ Wednesday prompt to write about weddings or marriage. She states, “As with all human institutions and traditions, weddings and marriages can be very mixed things.”
I wholeheartedly agree with this. Weddings are often fraught with family drama – it’s like all major holiday dinners with two entire families who are staying in one small house all rolled into one day.
After the wedding, marriage itself is a mixed bag of highs and lows. Some couples do call it quits when the lows seem too much but for other couples, those marriage vows, that piece of paper, is permanently binding. Barring any type of abuse, these couples put in the hard work to maintain their commitment.
Relationships are mentally, emotionally and physically demanding. Sometimes love is enough to get us through. Sometimes we need a little more – from our partner, family, friends, from ourselves. But in the end, we all still hope to say, “It was worth it.”
©️ 2018, poem, commentary and photograph, Irma Do (I Do Run)
At Sea
He’d be my anchor
to hold me steady
He’d be my rudder
when I was ready
to be steered
and grasped
for journey’s maps
it sounded safer
to have such care
for when in life
I had been scared
of life, of me
looking past
the shorelines vast
but years stretched
the anchor weighed
life down and rudder
circled / stayed
in place, close in
to that land
of crystal sand
the winds were strong
to fuel the past
I cut the rope
on sail at last
no longer held
by ancient dreams
new horizons gleam
I can never know
what would have been
or even now will be
but let it in
my own accord
a path ahead
explore unled
Night is coming
undenied
and I am crossed
to the other side
through opened door
my skiff and me
unmoored and free.
© 2018, Deb y Felio
TANDEM: A word that only lovers
understand.
MARRIAGE: A state where tandem
should be true.
DESIRE: A thing that marriage
should but will.
Would that tandem were the way,
And put marriages at bay,
Let Lovers have their say……….
© 2018, Jen E. Goldie
..cypher spoken clear..
passed over by accident, the
thing occurred naturally,
without clerics. without beatitude.
given by friendship, yet
piety slowly eroded.
they come now with learning,
holding large words, a different language.
the charm now gone,
perhaps they did not need it any more.
once again, it is said, that,
they speak latin. made
the word bleed.
© 2018, Sonja Benskin Mesher
.once in france.
he sat on the step in the heat, I, sickly dozed under the damson tree. lizards flicked. while in the village below this hill music played. a wedding.
© 2018, Sonja Benskin Mesher
..spoon..
it is an ancient place,
oswald’s tree, the floor
bends, polished wood.
there was a wedding yesterday,
all kilted, the groom ate pie,
wore proper shoes with segs.
she showed me a cabinet, a spoon,
hand forged, old, beaten for sale.
i was travelling, a pretty
place, not good enough for some.
the bottle is crooked,
we left it
so.
© 2018, Sonja Benskin Mesher
- sonja-benskin-mesher.net
- sonja-benskin-mesher.net
- Sonja Benskin Mesher, RCA paintings (This is her Facebook page, so you can connect with her there as well as view photographs of her colorful paintings.)
- Sonja on Twitter
- sonja-benskin-mesher.co.uk
- Sonja’s daily blog (WordPress) is HERE.
I Locked My Heart and Let the Key Drift in the River
Urdu and English
وقت جو گزر گیا اک خواب سا لگتا ہے
اب یہ سوچتی ہوں کہ حقیقت کیا ہے
جب ہر کام میں الله پر بھروسہ کر لیں
تو پھر فکر و پریشانی کی ضرورت کیا ہے
کتنا جھوٹ بھرا ہے آج کے انسانوں میں
سچ کہاں ہے اور صداقت کیا ہے
ہر ایک کو فکر ہے بس اپنی ذات کی
ہمدردی کہاں ہے انسانیت کیا ہے
دکھ درد سے بھری ہے یہ دنیا سری
بیکاری بیماری کی یہ حالت کیا ہے
اپنے بھی پراے بن جاتے ہیں جب
چاہیں تو اپنا لیں پھر چاہت کیا ہے
بکتی ہیں بازاروں می علم کی سندیں
محنت و لگن و ذہانت پھر کیا ہے
دھڑکتے دل پے تالا ہے چابی دریا میں
گر چاہت گناه ہے تو پیار و محبت کیا ہے
Time that is past,seems like a dream
now I think about what certitude is
when for everything we trust the Almighty
then for worry and stress, no need is
how full of deception is humanity today
where faith righteousness and truth is
individuality narcissism reigns supreme
then where empathy compassion pity is
the world is replete with pain and grief
what nauseating malady, disease this is
knowledge is sold, in markets hot,openly
what then dedicated effort and vision is
I locked my heart and threw the key adrift
if desire is a sin then what love n affection is
A Wedding in gold in green and yellow, green soft and yellow bold
A Time to become the wanted and the unwanted, to feel hot and cold,
Be the, Special One, of the rare species, definitely, surely be in a color
and maybe sooner before you can say cock robin, be in a collar’.
I must apologize for my distraction by nature ,
but being born under the Gemini Skies I cannot
help being either Castor or Pollux-whichever is me,
I am a Human for I can see hear eat lie and cheat
mock taunt smile sleep grab and command and
write believe me I belong to a humble and honest
uh the Race that has inhabited this greener Planet
for centuries and made a humble smelly mess of it.
and thus in this ailing failing binding mending
cunning stunning weeping keeping entertaining
side of life one is selected decorated and collected
along with gold cash furniture house and boarding
yellow yellow all over, in flower bower and cover
in drums and dance in drinks and feast till over
in the loudness of music, drowns the fear n tear
the savage side of possession command n cheer
there reigns more hurt and pain and complaints
a bondage a commitment a promise of affection
forgiveness patience courage and conviction of
of sacrifice support of honor and appreciation
but an image horrific looms large and long
unwashed dishes,ants crawling in line
anger aggression insults subtle and fine
depression loneliness forgetfulness of the divine
how soon the green mixing with yellow withers
away, the fragrance fades and flowers decay
the joy of togetherness drags and drifts away
and all love ‘soon dies in its own too much’ a day
a wedding is a promise if one makes it then one should keep it
© 2018, photos and poem, Anjum Wasim Dar (Poetic Oceans)
ABOUT
Poet and writer, I was once columnist and the associate editor of a regional employment publication. Currently I run this site, The Poet by Day, an information hub for poets and writers. I am the managing editor of The BeZine published by The Bardo Group Beguines (originally The Bardo Group), a virtual arts collective I founded. I am a weekly contributor to Beguine Again, a site showcasing spiritual writers.
My work is featured in a variety of publications and on sites, including: Levure littéraure, Ramingo’s Porch, Vita Brevis Literature,Compass Rose, Connotation Press, The River Journal, The Bar None Group, Salamander Cove, Second Light, I Am Not a Silent Poet, Meta / Phor(e) /Play, and California Woman
* The BeZine: Waging the Peace, An Interfaith Exploration featuring Fr. Daniel Sormani, Rev. Benjamin Meyers, and the Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi among others
“Every pair of eyes facing you has probably experienced something you could not endure.” Lucille Clifton
Jamie Dedes' THE POET BY DAY Webzine 
Thank you!