Saturday, January 30, 2010

49 Years

Anniversary Poem


49 Years.
Where did they go?
49 Years.
What do they mean?
49 Years.
It all began under an October harvest moon.
49 Years.
She was 21 – I was 25.
49 Years.
We are much older now than our parents were
dressed in their finery that snowy evening.
49 Years.
Loving the little girl, then the
little boy who graced our lives.
49 Years.
Wearing a gold ring that never
turned green.
49 Years.
Of struggle, fear, frustration and
fun, fun, fun.
49 Years.
Of lying next to the one
who keeps you warm and safe.
49 Years.
Of packing and moving and packing
and moving and packing and moving.
49 Years.
Of saying goodbye and hello and
goodbye and hello.
49 Years.
Of fighting over the tiniest of things.
49 Years.
On agreeing on what really matters.
49 Years.
Like water on a rock—altering, changing
making smooth and shiny.
49 Years.
Of stretching and forgiving
and hurting and healing.
49 Years.
Where did they go?
49 Years.
What do they mean?
49 Years.
Finally learning love not an emotion
or an act or a word but much, much more.
49 Years.
Love is a bridge that helped me/us
Over many troubled and peaceful waters.
49 Years.
Grateful. Humble. Joy-filled. Maddening.
Comfortable. Confusing and Right.
49 Years.
Where did they go?
49 Years.
Much, much too fast.
49 Years.
What do they mean?
Every thing.
Everything.

1 comment:

  1. I recognized Gayle immediately, but I still can not identify the groom! Happy Anniversary! This reflection reminded me of a sermon you preached a few years ago. In the sermon you talked about those events in life when you would almost shout: "Want to live forever." If my memory serves me well, some of those times were when you saw Gayle coming down the aisle 49 years ago, upon seeing your new daughter and later a son, watching your daughter walk down the aisle as a beautiful bride, and those "time stands still" events continue...

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