leading to the altar

her white frilly lace gown
with a ten foot train
tickles my plush fibers
he’s in a royal blue tuxedo
they bring hundreds of people
to the gaily decorated church
all in their best shining leather shoes
they leave the taxis lined up under the porch
this is the only day too important
for bicycles, even ribbons and bell bedecked
today there are no national tulips
but white roses by the dozens
the organ plays Mendelssohn
she, on the arm of her bearded father
joins her beloved at the alter
they speak vows, truths about their emotions
exchanging gold rings, hers, of course, shinier
before making other promises “till death do us part”

I’m glad they didn’t choose
the blue carpet today
it needs to be cleaned
although my thick red velvet pile is aging
I imagine how nice it was
when this ceremony
imitated pagan flower power
and they all arrived barefoot
modern shoes leave such disgraceful prints…




leading to the altar
[2007.5.3…a]