Laughing and Crying.

I went to a truly lovely wedding ceremony this past weekend, for a pair of women in our community. It was in a blueberry barren, we were overlooking the water. It was a nice sized crowd, not large, not small, you could see everyone's faces fairly easily. There was some gentle music and a general lightness to the whole event. I think I even heard a songbird.

There was a moment in their vows when they said something that touched me, "I promise to keep my heart open to you." I thought that in life that is such a complicated thing to do, and what a beautiful thing to promise to one another as you commit to a lifetime of patience. What a considerate thing to put on the table before the world, an open heart. And then there was the hug...they had a lovely kiss after exchanging rings, but the hug! Oh the hug made my heart swoon, it made the tears flow through my eyes, the deep care, the sweet touch, the true love.

And I share the sweet, the funny and the truthful poem by Billy Collins that was read:

Litany

You are the bread and the knife,
the crystal goblet and the wine.
You are the dew on the morning grass
and the burning wheel of the sun.
You are the white apron of the baker,
and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.

However, you are not the wind in the orchard,
the plums on the counter,
or the house of cards.
And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.
There is just no way that you are the pine-scented air.

It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,
maybe even the pigeon on the general's head,
but you are not even close
to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.

And a quick look in the mirror will show
that you are neither the boots in the corner
nor the boat asleep in its boathouse.

It might interest you to know,
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
that I am the sound of rain on the roof.

I also happen to be the shooting star,
the evening paper blowing down an alley
and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.

I am also the moon in the trees
and the blind woman's tea cup.
But don't worry, I'm not the bread and the knife.
You are still the bread and the knife.
You will always be the bread and the knife,
not to mention the crystal goblet and--somehow--the wine.