Thursday, 10 September 2009

Beltane Wedding


We married while sunlight
slanted through the trees
and the heady scent of bluebells
permeated our dresses
and the guests, in a ring,
threw fresh cherry blossom instead of confetti
and the priestess laughed at my tears.

The bark of birch saplings
smelled of rain and decay
and the promise of warmer days to come
while underfoot the moss
released water over our shoes
and clouds of burning sage
banished the ghosts of the past.

You laughed as we said our vows
eyes flashing and the scent
of Poison on your wrists made
me remember the night we met
but the clearing at the foot of the quarry
was redolent with vanilla and patchoili
and your lips were cherry soft.


25 comments:

Unknown said...

It is all beautiful although I particularly like the second stanza. Evocative memories.

Cynthia Short said...

I loved this, very sweet and happy memories you were able to translate to the page...good job!

Rachel Green said...

Thank you both. It was good to remember this day.

Anonymous said...

You give a very good sense (or scent) of time and place.

gautami tripathy said...

Beautiful memories so well told..

misty, dusty

rallentanda said...

A tender rich and sentient poem.
Vanilla and cherry lips..hmmmm!
Poison is one of my favourites
also

Shullie said...

stunning and evocative xxx

Rachel Green said...

Thanks Shullie :)

Anonymous said...

I like the gothic arboreal feel of this, how it makes of nuptials a darkly ambivalent kind of rite, a sacrifice.

Unknown said...

This is a beautiful memory of a very special night. i thought it was evocative Thank you for sharing.

Anonymous said...

from Therese B. at RWP -- a poem written about a particular occasion, written with great tenderness and intimately-described sights, smells, and sounds. The ritual nature of the occasion is given numerical ritual: three stanzas, each with seven lines.

Nathan said...

This is quite beautiful -- wonderful observation of detail.

Paul Oakley said...

I love the laughter and the smells! Beautiful!

sonia said...

very sensual and beautiful. what a lovely wedding day.

Donald Harbour said...

An enchanting and mystical flirtation with a life event that mixed the moment with the environment. I did like this a lot.
DH

Rachel Green said...

Thank you Donald

Anonymous said...

I like the second stanza very much- the promise of the warmer days to come mirroring the promise of the ceremony.

Rachel Green said...

Thank you Donna

Unknown said...

What can I say that others haven't? This is beautiful. I loved the little dichotomies: tears/laughter, decay/warmth... Stunning really.

Erin Davis said...

Lovely, lovely, lovely. I would like to have been at this wedding.

Wayne Pitchko said...

truly wonderful....took me back to a wedding of 2 dear friends of mine in the foothills of the canadian rockies about 30 years ago..so your wonderful memory clicked in with me also

Rachel Green said...

Thank you both - you are very kind.

spacedlaw said...

Lovely memory

DK said...

dear Goddess, that took my breath. What beautiful memories of a beautiful day. Thank you, my beloved wyfe, always xxx

Rachel Green said...

Thank you for reading :)