Friday, July 16, 2010

My Wedding Poem for Sara & Jerry

My Daughter Sara & Her Husband Jerry
Photograph by Tom Underwood


Here is the poem I wrote for my daughter Sara’s wedding.
My inspiration came from Margaret Atwood’s poem You Begin.
Click here to read Atwood’s poem.


Wedding Poem for Sara & Jerry

We begin this way:
this is my hand—
take it in yours,
hold on to it tightly.
Now we are one.
Here is my heart.
It holds rivers of love
that will flow to you freely
this day…and forever.

Outside the church window
summer awaits
with songbirds and sunlight
and shade trees to cool us
when days get too hot.

This is our world—
our family and friends
who know us and love us.
They’re smiling and happy
on our wedding day.

Now we are married…
we’re husband and wife—
we are partners for life.
We will share all our days,
all our sorrows and tears
all our laughter and triumphs
throughout the years.

This is my hand, this is my heart,
this is our world,
ahead is our future
filled with surprises
that we can’t imagine.

It all begins here
with our family and friends
with our promises…vows…
with the taking of hands
and the binding of hearts.

We begin and we end:
Here is my heart.
It holds rivers of love
that will flow to you freely.
This is my hand—
take it in yours,
hold on to it tightly
this day…and forever.
Now we are one.

**********

The Beautiful Bride

Photograph by Tom Underwood

Here's a picture of me with Sara at the Salem Waterfront Hotel.I was so happy I didn't shed a tear on my daughter's wedding day!

Note: We all loved Tom Underwood, the wedding photographer. He took great pictures, was unobtrusive--and was so easy to work with. I recommend him highly.

Click here to view more of the wedding pictures that Tom took.

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

Heidi Mordhorst has the Poetry Friday Roundup at My Juicy Little Universe.

18 comments:

Jules at 7-Imp said...

Lovely! All of it.

Bridget R. Wilson said...

Beautiful poem for a beautiful couple, Elaine!

jama said...

Beautiful poem, Elaine. Thanks for sharing the wedding photos. You all look gorgeous :)!

Anonymous said...

What a lovely tribur. I hope they have a framed copy of the poem. What a beautiful day for all, Love the photos.

Elaine Magliaro said...

Thanks, everyone! "Wedding weekend" was one of the happiest experiences of my life. I had such a blast--especially at the reception. I loved sharing Sara's special day with family and my dearest friends.

We displayed the framed wedding poem at the restaurant where the reception was held. I'm giving it to Sara and Jerry upon their return from Ireland.

Looking for the Write Words said...

Elaine,

Beautiful poem, beautiful bride and groom ~ your words brought a tear to my eye. Lovely tribute. I liked the way you brought those few lines back again in the last stanza.

~Theresa

Mary Lee said...

Beautiful! Maybe YOU didn't cry, but your poem got ME in the back of my throat!!

Congratulations to Sara on her new path in life!

Elaine Magliaro said...

Theresa & Mary Lee,

One night, a few months ago, I lay awake in bed worrying that I'd never get the inspiration to write a poem for Sara's wedding. Fortunately, soon after that sleepless night, I came upon Atwood's poem--which I had once posted over at Blue Rose Girls for Poetry Friday. After reading "You Begin" a few times, my wedding poem almost seemed to write itself.

Linda said...

Your poem is so lovely. It will always be treasured by Sara and Jerry.
Both you and Sara look beautiful!

Andromeda Jazmon said...

Beautiful photos, beautiful women, and a truly beautiful poem to celebrate!!

Elaine Magliaro said...

Linda & Andi,

Thanks! I'm happy to say that my Sara is just as beautiful on the inside as she looks on the outside.
In addition, she has a wacky sense of humor like her mother. We have lots of fun when we're together.

Amy L V said...

I love the hands, the "we begin", and "rivers of love" coursing through this poem and your weekend. What a gift...and what a gift!
Congratulations!
A.

Elaine Magliaro said...

Thanks, Amy. We had a fabulous "wedding weekend." Sara and Jerry are having a great time honeymooning in Ireland.

Jeannine Atkins said...

I remember you writing some months back about your doubt about writing this wedding poem: I'm sure everyone is so glad that you did, and wonderfully. Everyone looks happy and beautiful. I'm glad you have these words and pictures to remember the day.

Elaine Magliaro said...

Jeannine,

I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to write a poem for my daughter's wedding--or one that I'd want to have read in public. I am thankful to Margaret Atwood for her "inspirational" poem.

Elaine Magliaro said...

Thanks, Toby, I think everyone in the wedding party was radiant! My husband beamed as he walked my daughter down the aisle. I believe I smiled non-stop the whole day. I was so happy that I could contribute an original poem to my daughter's special day.

Anonymous said...

Love the wedding poems for the occasion. One more for the occasion. Cheers.

Match By Sophie Hannah

Love has not made us good.
We still do all the cynics said we would ~
Struggle like heroes searching for a war,
Still want too much, and more.
Love has not made us nice.
Elders and betters with, their best advice
Can’t stir us from the lounger by the pool
We dodge all work like school,
Leave urgent debts unpaid.
Cancel the solemn promises we’ve made
If loyalties or circumstances change.
Our thoughts are no less strange,
But love has made us last.
We do together all that in the past
We did alone; err not as one but two
And this is how I knew.

Julia Cates said...

Beautiful poem for a beautiful couple.
Thanks for share
wedding poems