Greetings, Poetry Lovers - and Happy New Year! I've missed you. We've been happily covered up hosting family for the past couple of weeks (everyone from the wee 18-month-old baby grand to my folks from Florida, who hadn't been on a plane in decades. They survived!) Keeping the six-month-old pup in check was an extra adventure, with additional people around. He loved the attention. We also had a small overnight trip in the middle.
Said trip was to be in on the surprise for our future daughter-in-law, Ginnie, when our son Seth asked her to marry him. He cooked up a warm event with friends and family on a very chilly night in Asheville, in the same little city park where they had their first meeting/date.
He told her,
•I promise to love you a forever full of tomorrows•
(Pretty poetic if you ask me. He's quite the able wordsmith, crafting regular sermons and a witty family text here and there.)
I didn't have to look far to find a poem to share in their honor this week. You've likely seen it, or at least parts of it. It's from Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet, published in 1923, 100 years before these two got engaged.
On Marriage
by Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931)
Then Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage, master?
And he answered saying:
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of the lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.
(Here's the link from poets.org.)
My hubby Jeff and I will celebrate our 40th anniversary in June, and I'd say that from my perspective anyway, these poetic words above contain sound advice!
Jeff's parents are no longer with us, but I would imagine they would share with Seth and Ginnie the same sentiment they gave to many other grandchildren about to marry: love is not a feeling, but a commitment.
When my folks got married in 1980, it was a second marriage for both of them. They'll celebrate 44 years next month. I asked them for a gem to share, and they offered a couple of shiny nuggets. From my mom, Nita, "Of course, have Jesus in there somewhere leading the way." And from Jack, "Each one putting the other one first. Respect, trust, and putting the other first."
We've seen these traits alive and well with our oldest, Morgan, and her hubby, Matt (world's best son-in-law).
Every couple finds their own way, and we'll be cheering on our young 'uns with love and support, from a respectable distance. ;0)
Congrats, Kids!
Any pearls (or diamonds, or sapphires) you'd like to add? Please do, and then be sure to visit Marcie Flinchum Atkins for the first Poetry Friday Roundup of 2024! Thanks, Marcie.