To The Newlyweds

Once she left you pearls

dropped like apples from a tree

and he offered gold as soft as leaves.

There will be days

when you wonder, soul stretched,

words urgent

shared in haste

questions dust to dreams,

but those are good days too.

Let all the days be good days,

make a study of your beloved,

a sand castle for his sorrows,  

light given in darkness takes

your whole being

it is not easy

this work of love—

In the morning, the sun

comes through the kitchen window,

cuts across the floor, warm as bread.

He stands with hands

cupped around steamy coffee

she washes a dish, sets it to dry,

before turning,

--I see her shake the water from her hands

and his soft smile--

it will be the sun on her shoulders

you covet or his hands on the cup

as it reaches his lips and shakes sleep free,

you think of all day.

So too this vow of love,

as ordinary as rain

as sacred as morning,

let it be the road home

let it carry you.

August 5, 2017

 -for Sigrid & Aaron on their wedding 

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