A Wedding Song

Listen, I'll tell you a story
it begins in the still morning
silver light spreads through the room
outside tentative birdsong, chirrup, trill trill
here is a new day

I see a man and a woman
I see deserts and oceans
across the mountains, across the waters,
arms reach out
fingers stretch and meet
hands join

what long long roads have been tramped
before two people
reach one place

A man and a woman
catching between their fingers the light of morning
listening for new songs

The story is about rejoicing together
about hope and daring
she says: I met you in a land of shadows
I heard your voice, I recognized the words
He say: Walking along city streets I found you and
all buildings became home

Water in the desert
shade in the glaring light
my dance my darling
my day my night

Day advances and the shadows lengthen
the harmonies grow more complex
the statements change, and questions rise:

Will you still be there for me when it grows dark
when I cry in pain or in the greyness of unknowing;
and can I support you in your hour of grief?

Having crossed so many deserts
and travelled so many seas
we will remember
the journey and the home

Here. Let us light a candle
Let the small flame burn upwards
reminding us: constancy, fidelity
It glows and gleams in the darkness
and we remember
that always somewhere there is day
that somewhere, always, there is day

my joy, my darling
my love, my light