Recent Poems

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="12ad4c00dduajq.gif"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="95" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 46 WIDTH="91"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="46" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="91" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="stan hedges homepage"><U>Return to Homepage</U></A></div> <div>  <A NAME="top"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="141462c0.jpg" border=0 width="70" height="44" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> email:</div> <div>  sonoflawrence@yahoo.co.uk</div> <div> (Not live link. Copy & Paste)</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5_alphabetical_list.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" poetry collection"><U>For complete list of poems</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id5_alphabetical_list.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" poetry collection"><U>CLICK here</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U><B>Miscellaneous Poems</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recent Poems"><U><B>Recent Poems </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Reflection"><U><B>Poems of Reflection</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Introspection"><U><B>Poems of Introspection</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems in a Dark Time "><U><B>Poems in a Dark Time </B></U></A></div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="alphabetical_list"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id114_a_small_request_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Reflection"><U>A small request</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_a_virgin_soldier_at_dawn.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>A Virgin Soldier at Dawn</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id112_m.htm#an_old_poet_with_highs_and_lows_" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Recent Poems"><U> An old poet with highs and lows</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_and_he_answered_thus.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>And He answered thus</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_andrew_walker___in_memoriam.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Andrew Walker</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id112_m.htm#any__umberellas_" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Recent Poems"><U>Any 'Umberellas'</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_beethoven_s_violin_concerto.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Beethoven Sonnet</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id114_blood_letting.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Reflection"><U>Blood-letting</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_blues_for_the_muse.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Blues for the muse</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_caravella_tours____portugal_s_best_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Caravella Tours</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id116_children_in_a_playground_1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Introspection"><U>Children at play </U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_cool_man_cool.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Cool, man, cool</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id115_dawn_at_the_disco.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems in a Dark Time "><U>Dawn at the disco</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_divine_adultery.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Divine adultery</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_emma_is_leaving.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Emma is leaving</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id114_few_things_are_constant.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Reflection"><U>Few Things are Constant</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id114_freudian_insight.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Reflection"><U>Freudian insight</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id116_hope_springs_____1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Introspection"><U>Hope Springs</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_in_defence_of_mediocrity.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>In defence of mediocrity</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id114_last_words_of_a_romantic.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Reflection"><U>Last Words of a Romantic</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id115_lie_fallow.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems in a Dark Time "><U>Lie fallow</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id112_m.htm#municipal_dwellings" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Recent Poems"><U>Municipal dwellings</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_my_darling_lucy_lou.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>My darling Lucy-Lou</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id116_ode_of_a_humpty_grumpty__1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Introspection"><U>Ode of a Humpty Grumpty</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_on_glances_from_a_young_girl.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>On glances from a girl</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_on_parting_from_ziggy.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>On parting from Ziggy</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id115_on_self_pity_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems in a Dark Time "><U>On self-pity</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id114_once_upon_a_merry_moon.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Reflection"><U>Once upon a merry moon</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id112_m.htm#our_wish__for_emma_and_richard" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Recent Poems"><U>Our Wish for Emma...</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id115_so_near_a_saint_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems in a Dark Time "><U>So near a saint</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id115_thank_you_for_the_note.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems in a Dark Time "><U>Thank you for the note</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id116_the_continuum_1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Introspection"><U>The continuum</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id112_m.htm#the_first_death_sentence" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Recent Poems"><U>The first death sentence</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id114_the_pantheist_meets_his_brother.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems of Reflection"><U>The pantheist</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id112_m.htm#the_poet_s_new_clothes" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Recent Poems"><U>The poet's new clothes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id112_m.htm#the_spoils_of_war_" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Recent Poems"><U>The spoils of war</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_this_sleep_of_love_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>This sleep of love</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_thoughts_in_a_college_garden.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Thoughts in a college garden</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id115_to_a_wife_unknown.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems in a Dark Time "><U>To a wife unknown</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_valediction_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Valediction</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_we_had_our_quarrels_you_and_i.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>We had our quarrels...</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_what_is_needless_to_say.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>What is needless to say</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125_wingless_with_the_birds__.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Wingless with the birds</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5_top.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" poetry collection"><U>Return to Top</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="stan hedges homepage"><U>Return to Homepage</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I><B>Recent Poems</B></I></div> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="1885e030.gif" border=0 width="350" height="3" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="any__umberellas_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Any 'Umberellas'</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> I still see her waving.</div> <div> Beware mums when they wave...</div> <bR> <div> Come on now, </div> <div> cajoled the headmaster,</div> <div> what's all this crying?</div> <div> Mustn't let old Hitler think we're afraid.</div> <bR> <div> But he was. </div> <div> He was scared.</div> <div> And the teachers.</div> <div> All scared.</div> <div> The whole shuffling crowd was scared.</div> <bR> <div> Worst of all… Mum was scared.</div> <div> You could tell…</div> <div> she was humming.</div> <bR> <div> Humming softly. </div> <div> Not singing.</div> <div> Not like in the kitchen</div> <div> when I sat on the draining board</div> <div> having my knees scrubbed.</div> <bR> <div> Then, like any other morning,</div> <div> the same old question:</div> <div> How much do you love me?</div> <bR> <div> But where are we going?</div> <div> Somewhere nice.</div> <div> How much do you love me?</div> <bR> <div> Are you coming?</div> <div> No, darling, mums can't come.</div> <div> How much do you love me?</div> <bR> <div> Why can't they come?</div> <div> It's a train-ride for kids;</div> <div> it's only for children.</div> <div> How much do you love me?</div> <bR> <div> I don't wanna go.</div> <div> She kissed me and told me</div> <div> it wouldn't be long.</div> <div> How much do you love me?</div> <bR> <div> But why are we going?</div> <div> Because of the bombs.</div> <div> I ain't seen no bombs.</div> <div> There will be... soon.</div> <bR> <div> Anyway, stop asking questions.</div> <div> How much do you love me?</div> <bR> <div> I relented and shouted,</div> <div> "Seven thousand pounds!"</div> <div> knowing how to please her,</div> <div> how to get that big hug.</div> <bR> <div> Sing the song.</div> <div> Which one do you want?</div> <div> You know... sing me my favourite.</div> <div> And so she did.</div> <bR> <div> "Any umberellas, any umberellas to mend today..."</div> <bR> <div> How much do you love me?</div> <div> But I couldn't answer,</div> <div> couldn't answer again.</div> <bR> <div> And I still see her waving.</div> <div> Beware mums when they wave.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="municipal_dwellings"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Municipal Dwellings</B></div> <bR> <div> We arrive unannounced; </div> <div> we always arrive unannounced,</div> <div> as though the carers think it a waste of time.</div> <div> Or perhaps they fear another let-down;</div> <div> there's always the chance we might not come. </div> <div> And they've had so many disappointments.</div> <bR> <div> Most are slouched and slumbering, jaws agape,</div> <div> and you'd swear you'd come too late, </div> <div> as they sprawl around the walls</div> <div> like cast off dolls from another age</div> <div> left carelessly by a precocious child.</div> <bR> <div> Seeing me, a lady lifts her head and smiles </div> <div> but quickly looks away. </div> <div> I'm not her son. But he'll come tomorrow.</div> <div> She's sure he'll come tomorrow.</div> <div> I hope he comes tomorrow.</div> <bR> <div> We unpack the magic spells: </div> <div> Dodie's Celtic harp, mine and Tom's guitars. </div> <div> Already a face here and there betrays mild curiosity.</div> <div> One old lady primps her hair. It's a good start; </div> <div> with any luck, we could work another miracle here. </div> <bR> <div> "If you were the only girl in the world" goes well enough,</div> <div> but Tom's "Daisy, Daisy," is the real kick-start today.</div> <div> By the time we get into 'Two Lovely Black Eyes',</div> <div> crutches and wheelchairs are piling up in the corner </div> <div> and Zimmer frames are going for a song. </div> <div> But there aren't any takers. There are never any takers.</div> <bR> <div> She wants me to take her home, that one.</div> <div> How do I know the only man to do that</div> <div> will come dressed smarter than me;</div> <div> immaculate, stepping from a black limousine </div> <div> brimming with flowers all for her?</div> <div> She hasn't met him.  She never will.</div> <div> It's so rare to meet the one who takes us home.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="an_old_poet_with_highs_and_lows_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>An Old Poet with Highs and Lows.</B></div> <bR> <div> His shabby mackintosh </div> <div> hid a sheaf of dog-eared sheets </div> <div> furled into a neat tight scroll, </div> <div> all tied with a scarlet ribbon.</div> <div> At one point, he waved the scroll persistently,</div> <div> until, eventually, Jenni demurred.</div> <bR> <div> He must have been high that night, </div> <div> this once-handsome, lank-haired man </div> <div> with grubby iron-grey, hair </div> <div> and a fear that looked all ways. </div> <div> For months he'd come without reading, </div> <div> but that night he'd insisted. </div> <bR> <div> And we found this wandering man </div> <div> of the Cambridge streets and empty nights, </div> <div> who too many times had slept </div> <div> with broken crowns wrapped in </div> <div> vinegar and brown paper, </div> <div> did know something about feelings </div> <div> and words and sounds and images. </div> <div> What's more, his modulations pleased the ear. </div> <bR> <div> He made a good start; voice loud and clear, </div> <div> delivery not too rapid, not too slow, </div> <div> and we settled back with relief;</div> <div> a kind of gratitude; a pompous pleasure </div> <div> bordering upon smugness. </div> <bR> <div> Was it that very recognition of his </div> <div> personal existence that finally overwhelmed him? </div> <bR> <div> He began to fluff a line here and there, but let it pass. </div> <div> It wasn't until he lost his place a second time </div> <div> that a familiar unease entered the room. </div> <div> Even so, he might have continued unabashed, </div> <div> except for missing one line altogether, </div> <div> when he insisted he'd read that passage again. </div> <div> Then again; then again; and yet again...</div> <bR> <div> Hardened by years inside the ring,</div> <div> we watched more closely now. </div> <div> For it's how a bull dies that counts. </div> <bR> <div> We cringed to watch him strain in linking </div> <div> eye with page and word with tongue </div> <div> and mind with hope, as he fought </div> <div> to subdue his devils; knowing all the while </div> <div> he was losing ground; losing to superior arms; </div> <div> our lucid minds, our cold, cold sobriety. </div> <bR> <div> Soon his livid flesh accused him</div> <div> more vividly than all the shifting bums,</div> <div> wayward glances and shuffling feet. </div> <div> And so it happened that, for once, </div> <div> we listened willingly to the sounds of traffic </div> <div> and the passing chatter on the street outside, </div> <div> there, beyond the café door, </div> <div> until, sensing himself fatally flawed, </div> <div> he gave a silent curse;</div> <div> then bitter anguish choked him off completely. </div> <div> Beaten down, we watched.</div> <bR> <div> His mind stumbled to its knees, </div> <div> leaving a defiant fist hanging, </div> <div> full of broken dreams and strangled air.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="the_poet_s_new_clothes"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>The Poet's New Clothes</B></div> <bR> <div> Eschewing tailors and sweat shops</div> <div> and ready-made emporiums,</div> <div> poets labour in sick rooms and bedrooms, </div> <div> bar rooms, and back rooms, </div> <div> making garments to fit themselves nicely;</div> <div> using fragments of hard-won pieces of cloth</div> <div> torn from multitudes of man-made mangles</div> <div> that beset each one on his way.</div> <bR> <div> Averse to shoe-horns, corsets or laces, </div> <div> when happy, they wring them out gently </div> <div> then study the weft and the warp,</div> <div> feeling each fibre, each stitch, each strand, </div> <div> hoping they'll never need wear them again. </div> <bR> <div> They wash new pieces as each day goes by</div> <div> in the swirling tubs of their inimical minds</div> <div> then hold them up to scrutiny,</div> <div> before folding them away for the needy. </div> <div> For everyone loves new clothes.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="the_first_death_sentence"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>The First Death Sentence</B></div> <bR> <div> The time has come, you say, </div> <div> to walk alone for a thousand nights.</div> <div> But life was simpler in my youth. </div> <div> Some things were never said.</div> <bR> <div> On the walls we painted totems, </div> <div> skirted every sacred tree,</div> <div> and though we gave each other names, </div> <div> words were used for little else, </div> <div> so one was seldom misconstrued. </div> <bR> <div> What need of words for joy </div> <div> or fear or love or hate? </div> <div> Had we no faces, hands or eyes? </div> <div> Could we not see, and touch, and smell </div> <div> our daily wants and needs? </div> <div> Had we not language, signs enough?</div> <bR> <div> Only these had names, I remember: </div> <div> fire, food, water, wind, tree, club, </div> <div> rain, antelope, danger, fur, fang, blood. </div> <bR> <div> Then 'The Naming One', a grey-beard, </div> <div> came from a far-off land, </div> <div> 'Beyond the morning,' he said, </div> <div> 'beside the never-ending lake.' </div> <div> He brought gifts: </div> <div> A forked wand to spirit water out from barren ground; </div> <div> the throwing stick; clear stones of many colours, </div> <div> and sacred shells that murmured still</div> <div> of his mythical lake of salt. </div> <bR> <div> 'I come from King of Many Wives, </div> <div> Slow to Anger, Quick to Kill'. </div> <div> I bring truth and learning. I ask no wife,</div> <div> just honest food and shelter."</div> <bR> <div> As guest, we placed him by the embers </div> <div> with a barren woman to serve his needs. </div> <div> That night, and ten rebirths of the Moon, </div> <div> he shared our meat. </div> <bR> <div> 'The giver of Light is called, </div> <div> God Who Must be Obeyed, </div> <div> and the king is his anointed son.' </div> <bR> <div> He taught us words no silver sage </div> <div> had ever known, nor ever sought to find. </div> <bR> <div> We learned the world is made of Property, </div> <div> everything but wind, breath, and sky. </div> <div> That all belongs first to the king, </div> <div> and then to man; </div> <div> and all is theirs for the taking. </div> <div> That all men own what they can take </div> <div> as long as they've strength enough to hold it. </div> <bR> <div> It becomes mine and yours, </div> <div> his and hers, theirs and ours.</div> <div> All new words. </div> <div> We learned of marriage, </div> <div> the sins of the flesh, </div> <div> that making love without a wife is bestial, </div> <div> and sometimes the king calls it Adultery. </div> <bR> <div> We learned of covet, hate, and envy; </div> <div> and gained a word for that time we knew before. </div> <div> The Naming One called it Peace.</div> <bR> <div> Ageing now, I know my time has come. </div> <div> No longer running with the braves, </div> <div> you say it's time to walk for a thousand days. </div> <div> But life was simpler in my youth; </div> <div> we added no words to such obvious truths</div> <div> when the truth itself was pain enough.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B> <A NAME="the_spoils_of_war_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I><I><B>The Spoils of War </B></I></div> <div> (Childhood memory, 1940)</div> <bR> <div> Little boy, bright summer day</div> <div> Kicking down the leafy lane</div> <div> Comes to a gate</div> <div> 'Just a peep in.'</div> <bR> <div> Little puppy!</div> <div> Brown and fluffy</div> <div> Feeling frettish</div> <div> Naught to do</div> <div> Comes to the gate</div> <div> What a meeting!</div> <bR> <div> Little boy, little puppy</div> <div> Up in arms </div> <div> Tongue a'licking </div> <div> Both tails wagging </div> <div> Fearless hunters </div> <div> Stealing down the jungle path</div> <div> To cross the ox-eyed </div> <div> Cowslipped meadow </div> <div> Scattering horned </div> <div> And hungry sheep</div> <div> Come to a river</div> <div> Dab their feet in. </div> <bR> <div> Playing by the water's edge </div> <div> Puppy's a tiger</div> <div> Crafty too </div> <div> Now he's a lion </div> <div> Bigger than you!</div> <div> Snapping, snarling, </div> <div> Wagging, waiting...</div> <bR> <div> Oh, you urchin on that puppy day,</div> <div> Sulking in your inner room,</div> <div> Will you never play with me again?</div> <div> Thinking little of me then,</div> <div> And nothing on that day,</div> <div> Never for a moment did you dream</div> <div> That one so old and crabbed as me</div> <div> Could take you prisoner, </div> <div> Stop, and trap you,</div> <div> Rob, and wrap you</div> <div> Golden in that summer day.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="our_wish__for_emma_and_richard"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Our Wish  for Emma and Richard</B></FONT></div> <div> (Epithalamion to our daughter Emma, on her wedding day)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> That today,</div> <div> beyond these spoken vows, a bond will grow</div> <div> such that, if they are wise-being unspoken-  </div> <div> today's vows will never again outshine their deeds, </div> <div> nor petty grievance mar Love's mystic intent.</div> <bR> <div> For words are feeble, ephemeral things,</div> <div> made by man and not by Nature.</div> <div> And Nature's truth is in the loving deed;</div> <div> only touching gives it stature.</div> <div> It's all too easy to say, 'I love you' </div> <div> (such an easy way of wooing),</div> <div> while love in marriage is a doing word </div> <div> that takes a lifetime in the doing,</div> <div> where one small kiss, caress, arm around the waist,</div> <div> says more than poets' ingenuity </div> <div> writ end to end on some illumined scroll</div> <div> reaching beyond infinity.</div> <bR> <div> In giving love without a word,</div> <div> simply by thought and touch and deed, </div> <div> you both will have the knowing of it </div> <div> (though saying 'I love you' is still a kind of need).  </div> <div> But what is more, we all will know</div> <div> and, surely too, the world will know.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="some favourite poems"><U>Poems I wish I'd written</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Autobiography"><U>Memoir of early life</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" selection of Short Stories"><U>Short stories</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="epitaphs Id die for! "><U>Epitaphs I'd die for</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="miscellany"><U>Miscellany</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="about me"><U>About the author</U></A></div> <div>  </div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="stan hedges homepage"><U><B>Return to Home Page</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Visitors are welcome to use anything on this site for their own personal use. However,  please note that personal copyright is reserved on my own creative material, which may not be copied for redistribution to third parties without prior written consent. </div> <div> © S. T. Hedges <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#9933CC" FACE="Times New Roman" >2007</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>