I ask that you indulge me, but my daughter Melissa gets married in two days to her best friend, Ryan and my mind and time have been focused on this happy occasion. I must admit, Dad is getting a bit melancholy and the four of us have been lost in reminiscence. So in keeping with the mood we will delve into trying our hand at an Epithalamium, a poem written in honor of the bride and groom.
Now, I’m not fishing for tributes for the two of them, any young married couple can serve as your inspiration. All I ask is to just give it a try. Walt.
MARIE ELENA’S ATTEMPT:
“A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” ~ Ecclesiastes 4:12
ONE (Choka)
A cord of three strands Is not easily broken As two become one In the eyes of God Woven, entwined, interlaced Sustained by His might © Copyright – Marie Elena Good – 2013WALT’S HONOR:
ONE STEP AT A TIME
We walk together, step-by-step, side-by-side,me filled with pride, and you a blushing bride. You cannot hide the love you have for that man who waits nervously to take my place beside you to guide you. Eyes fixed on you as we stroll ever closer to the end of this phase of our lives together. The handsome guys always get the prettiest girl, and all I can do is watch you go. Be happy and grow together. © Copyright – Walter J. Wojtanik – 2013
POETIC BLOOMINGS 
Responses
Congratulations, soon-to-be-father-of-the-bride, Walt! And to your daughter and her fiancé as well. A friend of mine is getting married on Saturday, so I was in the perfect frame of mind for this prompt. 🙂
Another Wonder (a Shadorma)
God’s performed
Another wonder:
Two hearts joined,
Two songs raised,
Uplifted, intertwined in
Perfect harmony.
© Copyright Erin Kay Hope – 2013
My muse was sooooooo glad to be taken out from where I had her locked away. But I don’t think she’ll ever forgive me for those two badpoems I wrote. 😉
a sweet poem, Erin. As for the muse, let the hussy stew from time to time, teach her humility and forgiveness, eh? 😀
Hahahaha! Thanks, Jane, no doubt it would. 😉 And thank you for reading. Glad you like it.
Best wishes to you, Walt as your family opens its arms to blend in this special way with others. May God’s blessings and love surround you’
Amen to that, Marjory. At this point anything I could write would be too bland and cliched, so I will simply let others compose.
DAUGHTER
You walk the wedding aisle for real today
in lace-limned satin dress of virgin white,
your trailing veil an echo of a sight
that lives in me. Its yellow-ribboned splay
recalls the way you used to laugh and play
on sunny summer days, your hair alight
with streaming colors, holding fast and tight
to gathered dandelion bouquets. I pray
these nuptial blessings last your whole life through:
a melding of your souls; emergent embraces;
a core of mutual peace; a tender pair
of hands that know the very shape of you.
And children. One of them, at least, who graces
your home and yard with rainbow-spangled hair.
Lovely – the past , present and future here.
This is beautiful, William! “Rainbow-spangled hair” is such a lovely, ethereal phrase.
Gorgeous picture in words, William.
NEWLY WEDS
Married,
let us pursue
the journey we began
when first we mingled and our souls
tarried.
Drat! “Newlyweds” is supposed to be one word.
Well, as long as I am thinking on it:
NEWLY WEDS
Newly
soon will marry
the beautiful woman
who caught his roving eye and made him
tarry.
Too bad you weren’t around when I got married or I’d have had you write all the wedding verse. 😀
Thank you! I’d’ve been proud to try. I admire your work, so I appreciate the sentiment.
Both wonderful poems! You truly have enormous talent, William. 🙂
Epithalanium
A bride is always beautiful,
the groom a nervous cliché.
and maybe a trace hung-over.
But it is fair to say
that this pair is perfection –
never a pushover wife
nor heavy-handed husband
justt a contented team for life.
This is terrific Viv. Perfect!
Splendid, Viv!
Marie, Yours is beautiful. Perfect.
I agree. Absolutely lovely, Marie! ❤
Congratulations, Walt!! Both poems are so lovely!!
Walt, congrats, Father of the Bride. Marie, we used that verse in our wedding.
To Honor their Wedding Vows
The groom—proud, handsome, tall
Gleaming eyes
Joy beaming in every move
The bride—slim, beautiful
Fun and wise
Smiling at groom’s skill to amuse
They’ve been together years
Though apart
Living like a dance, near and far
Time to blend joy and tears
Like an art
Following the same guiding star
Family and friends come
Joyfully
Knowing that the mix of these two
Is greater than the sum
Synergy
Igniting light and hope anew
This is nice. Is the form your creation? I don’t recognize it.
Thanks, it’s the tri-fall listed in the in-form section. I went down the list and now I’m going back up it.
My poems are on enthusiasticsoul.blogspot.com
Oh. I ought to check that list, then. I’m not taking advantage of the site’s teachings.
🙂
Lovely poem, Connie! That last stanza is wonderful!
Lovely poem, Connie.
Of Bells and Rings
Love triumphs on this day;
bells ring joy, the news of promises,
of a wedding, of vows and prayers.
Love sees spring ripen into fruitful summers,
and a union bright with life’s beginnings.
Love brings the freshness of green, fulfilling
long hopes with gentle blessings.
This man,
This woman,
Two hearts,
A new life
that are as fresh as May rain and as warm
as a father’s heart for his daughter’s
departure. And on this day, they bind
their promises with rings that hold
them each, tight and fast to their future;
Rings that wear thin with time,
like old doubts and worries.
[Walt: My best wishes to you and your family]
The last two lines are especially evocative, in my opinion.
ditto to the last two verses – beautiful sentiment.
Exactly!
Beautiful last two lines, MIsk.
[…] Written for the wedding of Walt’s daughter. Poetic form: Epithalamium […]
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, at each other
but in a kind, helpful way. 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 (even if he’s from the flatlands).
Parents have needs. Holidays can be torture. Don’t be selfish. Take turns – work it out.
Always put the needs of your marriage above your own. Be quick to forgive, love extravagantly, compromise when you can and be submissive to each other. Pray for each other.
Marriage is like writing a book – hard work with lots of decisions, twists, conflicts. But, when it’s on the bestselling list – worth it!
May the one you write together be epic … with,maybe, several sequels.
Love this, Debi! Good advice. 🙂
Wise words, Debi.
When I wrote it they were all three lines…
Marie, Walt – sorry to take up so much space. The lines bothered me : ( so I revised.
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 .
ack – still didn’t work!
You ought to know, but I fail to see how. It reads like a toast, in my opinion.
Thanks William – I’m satisfied if it does sound that way.
It just hit me that your dissatisfaction probably arose from the line breaks forced by the confines of the page. Is that so?
Yes.
I agree with William. It’s lovely, Debi.
IF WE LISTEN
Not human words but divine
In the quiet of a wedding moment
Exalt the spirit and
Humble the haughty.
God speaks to us on the thin edge
Of I-do promises. We can hear Him
If we listen with a keen sense
Of faith, if we offer our souls
like gifts at His altar.
In the embrace of blue sky
He is everywhere:
In the tears of deep sorrow,
In the beggar’s outstretched hand,
In the lame man’s awkward steps,
In a mother’s daily prayer,
And in this your marriage vows.
Human words can twist and bend
But the divine heals.
Wow… Just wow… You never fail to amaze me, Sal! What a divine poem!
Congratulation Walt! I wish you, your daughter and your friends and family much joy and happiness on this very special, happy event!
Here’s my Epithalamium, which is in the Irish form of Ae Freslighe: (ay fresh lee):
The Sweetest Song Yet Remains
“The strongest and sweetest songs yet remain to be sung.” ~Walt Whitman
No matter a cappella
or sung with a band, this song
of darling bride and fella
says this is where you belong.
Your verses are creating
symphony; the airs play bright
and harmony’s a-waiting
long after your wedding night.
New lyrics are narration,
since the best is yet to come.
It’s sweet prognostication
which started as a soft hum.
So, start now to orchestrate
your own beautiful refrains.
Compose joy with your soul mate:
the sweetest song yet remains.
###
This is so wonderful; it feels like a song, which is, as far as I know, what an epithalamium originally was. In any case, it is beautiful, in my opinion; reminds me of Richard Rodgers’s “The Sweetest Sounds.”
What William said!
Very sweet, RJ!
RJ, your way with words makes this poet’s heart explode with joy. Thank you for the thought and expression.
I sincerely hope this day bring you all the happiness in the world. Thanks for the kind words, but I wrote the poem with you in mind, making a toast to your daughter and new son-in-law. ❤
Two Hearts
God gives us one heart to carry us through life.
One heart, beating blood through our veins.
It beats through happiness,
It beats through joy.
It beats through remarkable pain.
The job the heart has is lonely at best.
It has to beat, without rest, day and night.
If it stops, we will die.
Little breaks can cause harm.
So it’s important that we treat our heart right.
They say exercise is best thing for a heart.
Low cholesterol, lots of vitamins and stuff.
You can do all these things
And more if you’d like,
But without love, it will not be enough.
A heart needs a partner with which it can merge.
Another heart, dedicated and true.
To find that true love,
There’s only one match.
And the match for my heart, is you.
The heart really knows when you meet the right one.
All you have to do is listen for the sign.
When my heart met yours
It beat with delight.
And I listened, and I’m glad, ’cause you’re mine.
We’ve discovered the key to everlasting love,
Two hearts, merged as one, beating strong.
That’s how our hearts are,
Forever entwined,
That’s how God wanted us all along.
Beautiful, Earl. I especially love your last two stanzas. 🙂
Walk Together
Yesterday you walked alone,
Today you walk together.
You’ve taken vows of love and trust
And hope they last forever.
No longer can you think as one,
You’re thoughts must intermingle.
Now you’ve got responsibilities,
No longer are you single.
You’ve made a choice you think is right.
You’ll find out soon enough
All roses have a thorn or two,
The going may get tough.
The two of you can make it through
Whatever’s in the way.
Together you will find that love
Gets better everyday.
I like this. It also feels like it’s singing.
Yes! What William said. Lovely, Earl!
Two hearts together
Crowned with the blessing of God
‘Til death do they part
Oh, I love haikus! Great one, Earl!
[…] for Poetic Bloomings In-Form Poet Prompt: Epithalamium (a poem in honor of a bride & groom). Posted for day 81 in 100 Days of Spring – […]
MILESTONES
(a shadorma)
Father’s heart
swells with pride; the bride,
his daughter,
taking part
in a big, new step in life,
becoming a wife.
2013-05-22
P. Wanken
Congratulations, Walt! Perhaps I’ll watch Steve Martin’s “Father of the Bride” movie on Friday in your honor! Congrats, too, to Melissa and the lucky groom.
Very sweet, Paula.
Melissa and I watched it last night.
My age shows: I think of Spencer Tracy. Congratulations to you and your daughter, and for the wonderful poem you wrote in her honor.
It’s not just your age. That’s the one I thought of too, and I’m 16! 😉
16? Wow. Your poems usually read older than that.
😀
What a great idea!
…years later
– Exhaustion, money problems,
No time…worse – no desire.
Why didn’t someone warn us?
Or did they all conspire?
– Conspiracy of silence?
Oh, no. They might have tried
To warn you, but then witnessed
The bridegroom kiss his bride.
When you exchanged your vows,
They did so, too. See, they,
Despite of all their troubles,
Relived their wedding day.
And all their firsthand knowledge
Dissolved, and all they knew
Was that the thing called marriage
Began with ‘I love you.’
Keep plowing through this challenge
Too late: you’re on this quest
That’s also known as marriage,
No turning back, no rest.
‘I love you’ is what matters,
Keep those three words inside
Your heart forever. Always.
Come, bridegroom, kiss your bride.
Congratulations, Walt!
Oh wonderful, Sasha! “‘I love you’ is what matters…” Beautiful!
Alexandra, I love this and your support. Thank you.
A WEDDING WALTZ
You marry today, in the time of the year
when trees are full greening and skies azure-clear,
but nothing in nature looks nearly so dear
as you do, this day in the spring.
May blessings abound as you venture this chance;
may love stay as fresh as your first wedding dance;
in all of your lives, never lose the romance
that led to this day in the spring.
Your time may be short or your time may be long,;
at times you’ll be right and at times you’ll be wrong;
but never forget that your lives are a song
that starts now, today in the spring.
copyright 2013, William Preston
I love this, William! You are definitely on a roll. Wonderful!
Thanks much. I’m happy with this one, myself. I did some checking and found that this kind of poem originated as a song, so I wanted to try one. I love waltz time, so….
Funny you said that, for when I read it, it sang itself to me. You may have a hit here, William. Elizabethan lute songs have this lovely refrain and waltz to them. Hey nonnyhilu!
Thank you, Jane. I don’t know the Elizabethan lute tradition, but a waltz has always felt right to me, with what little I know of music. I imagine the melody I had in mind, though, was something like “The Man of the Flying Trapeze.”
It truly is beautifully written. Keep ’em comin’ ! 🙂
William, I believe you should be a ‘verse consultant’ for weddings.
For my daughter and husband to be, I wrote these lines:
May your life
together
be filled
with much
love & happiness
joy & laughter.
May you always
find strength
with each other
now & ever after.
© 2011 by Patricia A. McGoldrick
Then I pasted them into a wedding wish scroll that I made for them to keep. I shared these wishes in the dinner speeches at their beautiful, small wedding dinner at The Little Inn in Bayfield on the shores of Lake Huron, one of our lakes so great!
Best to the Lake Erie poet father of the bride-to-be! Walt, my husband went for a walk along the shore of Lake Huron as he reflected on the words he would say on that special day! Speech was “great”! 🙂
Lovely poem, Patricia! 🙂
Thanks, Erin!
Patricia, I thank you for the sentiment and friendship>
To All the PB poets,
If you think you might like to make a wedding wish scroll, I wrote about it and posted the photographer’s photo of the scroll at http://www.breadnmolasses.com/2012/01/03/10th-day-of-christmas-new-year-new-wishes/
Best to All at this happy time!
[…] is an epithalamiaum, written for a poetry prompt at Poetic Bloomings. This type of poem is about a bride and groom. I chose to write from the perspective of the […]
Joyful Loss
And so begins a father’s loss
with a black tie and a white dress
and lovely pictures.
Gripping memories of decades past,
holding hands and holding tight,
which is forever in a child’s eyes.
But now he lets go,
making room for his son’s bride.
And so begins a father’s gain
Perfection! It really must be hard for a father to let go, but once he does, he also gains a son.
I like the bookendish feeling of this, and the form accentuates it, I think.
This is beautiful writing and thinking, ewD!
[…] Poetic Bloomings – an epithalamium is a poem to or about a bride and […]
Blessed Be
There is a creation legend
going back
to the beginning of time
that teaches thus:
When a soul is created,
it is divided in two.
One half is put in a man.
The other is put in a woman.
They are each given a chance
to look at the other,
and are then sent from the
spirit realm to the physical,
with the instructions to
find each other and
re-unite, thus
making a perfect whole.
But this corporeal world,
by its very nature, is full of
wonders and distractions,
that can hamper that task.
The key is to be grateful
in all things. To be true
to your heart, and once
you find each other,
NEVER. LET. GO.
Ellen Knight 5.22.13
write an Epithalamium (a poem honoring bride and groom)
I don’t know that legend, but your telling of it is wonderful.
Thanks, William. I took a little poetic license on a lesson from the Jewish sages.
Walt, I’m happy to participate in this one. I actually wrote a poem as a gift for my god-daughter’s wedding. I hope everyone enjoys it.
Casting Desires
Your day arrives with fanfare.
Excitement mounts, awaiting this
Ceremony bonding you each to the other.
Yet, this pomp is for show; the music
For others not standing by your side.
Your bonds began long ago within
Mind and spirit, and with God’s grace.
Each found themselves reflected within
The other’s vision of all things right
And proper in a life’s future made true.
Days beyond now have personal tales,
Made from desires cast on today’s breath,
Within you lies the power to create that
Which has never been, and that which can
Last for an eternity of tomorrows.
© Claudette J. Young
Wonderful, beautiful poem, Claudsy! “Each found themselves reflected within/The other’s vision of all things right…” What an amazing line! I love it!
Aw, thanks, Erin. I’m glad it made god-daughter happy, which was my hope. That others find it worthy is a plus.
That third stanza really says it all for me.
Oh, thank you so much, Sara. I’m so glad that you liked it.
Thank you Claudette, that is a beauty for sure.
So glad you liked it, Walt. You’re the romantic among us. If it passes your romance test, it must be okay.
To The Bride And Groom
This
day,
special
ivory love,
and auras of gold
spin, touch pink-cheeked happy couple.
Lovely, sweet poem, Sara. 🙂
Thanks, Erin!
Walt, I wish you and your beautiful daughter the best of wedding days. All the best to your whole family and that lucky young man. Conjunctio is sacred marriage, or what we’ve come to call “happily ever after”, something I wish for your young couple, and, well, to us all 😉
Conjunctio
Let the winds
of heaven
dance
between you,
a waltz, a tango, a rumba.
Let the flutter
of wings
that you hear
be your hearts,
loving, laughing, forgiving.
Let the wonder
of a moment
stay a lifetime
in your mind,
holding, healing, enfolding.
And may life
with one another
feed your souls
and make you whole,
joyful, thankful, complete.
Wonderful blessing. For me, it melds Irish and Jewish influences.
Beautiful, Jane, just beautiful!
Thank you Jane. I’m warmed by all the sentiments here!
Marie, forgive my filching your verse from Ecclesiastes. You inspired me.
Promise
“A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” ~ Ecclesiastes 4:12
God poured His strand
into our hands
to draw us to
His love and grace.
You, me, and God
braided and bound
a cord wrapped ‘round
of satin, lace.
That is such a wonderful scripture! And your poem does it justice. Lovely, Jane! 🙂
I wrote this one for another wedding years ago, dear friends who after much travail found one another. It was a truly moving ceremony.
Wedding
They seemed so happy didn’t they–
so happy and so frightened still.
They made me laugh and cry almost;
I didn’t know what I should feel.
But were they happy do you think?
And if they were, why did she cry?
And why did he look lost and small
and walk so short but talk so tall?
I want them to be glad they wed.
I want them to mean what they said.
I want life sweet for her and him.
I see so much of us in them.
This moves me, especially the line, “I want them to mean what they said.” The last stanza has a march-like cadence that lends it power, I think.
Sweet thoughts and description. I hope it all worked out and they are happy as can be.
Very sweet poem. Your first stanza really describes what I feel at the upcoming marriage of one of my good friends.
MY EPITHALAMIUM WISH FOR THE COUPLE
ABOUT TO BE WED
Today as you wed and exchange vows
and rings, remember you are also
promising to carry each other’s hearts
as carefully as you do your own,
pressed close to your soul for all time;
And as you find it so easy to promise
your love, remember sometimes
it won’t be just that simple but promise
it anyhow, and remember that oaths
are meant to be kept and then keep them.
For marriage is sacred and if you go into
yours with that in mind and pay attention
to each other with the care that entails,
you will be one soul sharing two bodies
and it will be a joyous thing indeed…
“…one soul sharing two bodies…” Lovely, Sharon! 🙂
I think “pay attention” is the key phrase here. Wonderful job.
Walt, congratulations to a wonderful father of the bride. I wish them happiness.
Sara, that is much appreciated, the wishes and the wonderful… Thank you.
She’s In White (a Cinquain)
The bride
Is dressed in white,
Her face radiant, out-
Shining the brightest diamonds on
Her ring.
© Copyright Erin Kay Hope – 2013
Congratulations Walt! and Melissa and Ryan. We are in wedding-plan mode here too! And I have been drenched in reminiscing and nostalgia. I hope to return to read and write but if I can’t(life is sort of crazy right now) I want to wish them God’s blessing.
Thank you, my friend. I hope your preparations are going as smoothly as ours seemed to have. It’s wet, and cold today, but it will not dampen the warmth of family and friends.
senyru
He can steal her heart
but, no fear, she’ll always be
Daddy’s little girl
Amen! (Says the father of 3)
Congratulations – Best Wishes and Gods Blessings – to the Bride & Groom and their families. Enjoy the day!
May
By David De Jong
May your love, mingle like the scent of lilacs and rain;
Its promise visible; in beauty, fragrance, unseen growth,
Each small bud completing clusters of exuberance,
As winds pass, faces turn to take in its delicate bouquet.
May your joy, glow as candles in the night for all to see;
Its light giving path to patience, peace and prosperity.
Guard it well when it flickers or bends in the storms of life;
Let its warm glow lead you, guide you, always back to your home.
May your faith be certain as the eagle waltzing up high;
Soaring, lifting with ease as restless winds embrace his face,
Invigorating others as they stand in awe of graceful flight,
Never tiring, carrying its weight, channeling life’s wind.
May you always find hope abundant, ample as rays of sun;
Illuminating each day, giving it purpose and life.
Though hidden by clouds and shaded from view, still it shines,
Warming your soul, kindling your love, renewing your faith.
May this day be remembered as spring of your seasons in life;
Forever cherished, eternally reminisced, infinitely blessed.