Friday, May 21, 2010

POETRY FRIDAY: A Bridal Shower Post

Sorry I haven’t been posting much lately. This past week has been an especially busy one for me. I was working on preparations for my daughter’s bridal shower, which we had last Saturday. I was also helping to get everything organized for our reading council’s spring dinner meeting on Wednesday. Both events were great successes. Family and friends had a grand time at the shower—and Sara received lots of fine gifts. Lita Judge made a fantastic presentation at our council dinner.
My Daughter Sara with Her Bridesmaids

I find that special occasions often lend themselves to poetry—so I brought a basket of poems to read at my daughter’s bridal shower. I wrote some silly little poems. The other poems I shared were written by J. Patrick Lewis, Donald Hall, Lucille Clifton, Denys Cazet, Martin Espada, and Pablo Neruda.

My husband, Sara, and I


I wrote three poems for the shower:
  • My Birth Day—which is told in Sara’s voice
  • Love Rhyme—a poem in two voices told by Sara and Jerry
  • A Note from Jack and Rudy—a poem in two voices told by Jack and Rudy, Sara and Jerry’s dog and cat.

********************

My Birth Day

Mom’s water broke.
I was on my way!
February 12, 1980
Was a special day.
That’s when I arrived—
A princess true.
To my safe little kingdom
I bid adieu.
Then I met my mom
And tried to explain
Why I had caused her
So much pain.
She held me tight
And kissed my head
Just after the dear old
doctor said:
“Congratulations…
It’s NOT a boy!”
And that’s when daddy jumped for joy!!!

********************
We decorated "wine bottles of the month" for Sara and Jerry.

********************
Love Rhyme

Eeny meeny miney mo
I’ve picked my favoritest, specialest beau.
Jerry, Jerry, HE’S the man.
I’m gonna marry him if I can!


Eeny meeny miney moo
I KNEW Sara loved me too…
So I got down on bended knee
And I said: “Honeybunch, marry me!”

Eeny meeny miney my.
We’re getting married in July.
We’re so excited. We can’t wait.
Do come and help us celebrate!

********************

A Note from Jack & Rudy


No need for a black tie.
No need for a gown.
No need for a silk vest
Or tiara-like crown.
Our master and mistress
Just want us to say
They’d love you to join them
On THEIR wedding day.

The Shower Cakes (Lemon & Red Velvet)




********************

At Blue Rose Girls, I have a poem by Josephine Dickinson entitled My Lover Gave Me Green Leaves.

Laura Salas is doing the Poetry Friday Roundup this week.

10 comments:

Amy L V said...

What a beautiful day! Your daughter is beautiful too, and you certainly gave her a party to remember. (I'm jotting some of these ideas in a journal for when my two daughters get married one day.) I'm glad to hear that this week has been celebratory for you. Thank you!
A.

laurasalas said...

Oh, Elaine, congratulations on this wonderful event. I love the three poems you wrote--so different from your usual poetic voice. It's funny how many poets we actually are inside!

I esp. love

That’s when I arrived—
A princess true.
To my safe little kingdom
I bid adieu.

Ha! What a fun, lovely, sanitary way to describe the birth process. Only in a poem:>)

Congrats to your daughter and your whole family. May the joy keep expanding.

Elaine Magliaro said...

Amy,

We had glorious weather on Saturday. The place where the shower was held was lovely. I was happy to have so much family and so many good friends to share such a happy time with me. I'm just sad that my mother wasn't able to come. I hope she'll be well enough to attend Sara's wedding.

**********
Laura,

I read mostly light verse at the shower--but there were a couple of poems that were of a more serious nature.

I still remember the day that Sara was born vividly. Thirty years haven't erased that happy experience from my memory.

jama said...

LOVE this post -- the pictures, your wonderful poems, and all the joy shared. That's a lot of bridesmaids :)!

Bridget R. Wilson said...

Congrats on your daughter's upcoming marriage, Elaine. Loved the poems especially "My Birth Day." I've written a similar poem for myself. Coincidentally, I was born on February 13 five years after your daughter. My only claim to fame is that I was born during a blizzad.

Elaine Magliaro said...

Jama,

It IS a big bridal party. Three of the bridesmaids are sisters of the groom-to-be. Jerry will have a lot of groomsmen--including two of his uncles.

**********

Bridget,

It snowed lightly the day we brought Sara home from the hospital. Fortunately, we didn't have a blizzard on the day she was born.

Laura said...

Elaine, what a wonderful way to celebrate! I love you let your pets have a say.

Congrats! This is on of the sublime moments in life. What better way to punctuate it than with poetry!

Laura Evans
all things poetry

Jeannine Atkins said...

I love all the poems from the various voices (and my husband would appreciate the dog's pov re skipping black ties), the many bridesmaid, the glowing and gorgeous bride to be, and cakes. What a celebration!

Mary Lee said...

What I love most are those decorated bottles of wine! What a FUN FUN gift that will keep on giving throughout the first year of their marriage!

Linda said...

Elaine, I'm so happy for you and your family. I know it's a crazy time, but it's a good crazy. It was one year ago tomorrow that my younger son was married and two months ago, he gave me a beautiful grand-daughter. Your daughter will treasure you poems the rest of her life. I especially love "My Birth Day." I've told my sons stories about their "birth days," but I've never written for them in poetry form. They each have a birth in the next few months. You've inspired me to try writing them a poem. Enjoy your special time. : )