The Promise of Marriage (Wendell Berry Tribute)

I dreamt of you walking towards me
As you leave the shadows behind and
The lights within your soul are brighter.
I want to meet you alongside the river’s
Edge – my sanctuary and where I see
Us building our first home. My hand
Wants to touch your skin – an igniter,
A spark and something that delivers
 
Its promise of protecting us. I was just
A wanderer, lost and unsure of where
I was going next, but then you came
Wearing your heart on your sleeve.
Your willing heart craved wanderlust
Too. You are a woman with long hair,
A smile that goes with it and a name
Beautiful as a dove’s call. The leaves
 
On the tree become greener as you
Approach and meet me down the aisle.
There I vow to shield you as you did
It countless times, even when I was
Undeserving and with the clear blue
Sky above our heads I love every smile
Along with the tears that already slid
Down your soft face. We take a pause
 
To take it all in, enjoying all the early
Mornings and late evenings. We laid
Our love at the Earth’s feet. We look as
Fall, winter, spring and summer change,
But our love that sometimes turns curly
Stays the same. Are we what we prayed
For? We have love that is raw like topaz
People dig for and is a mountain range.


#wendellberry