My love is like a big, big tree... more Poetry Bus adventures

So the challenge for the Poetry Bus this week...

To write a poem that can be read at a wedding

I have to admit my heart sank when I read this prompt. I am not a wedding person at all... I've never been married, never wanted to be... and whilst I can enjoy other people's weddings and be happy if they're happy... weddings just don't really interest me very much. I'm a love person not a marriage person... though I will concede that you probably can be both.

Anyway, after grumping for a while I remembered that I've actually had quite a lot to do with wedding poetry. First off I was commissioned to write a poem for a wedding a few years ago (quite tricky as I didn't even know the couple). I wrote about it here and it all worked out well (sorry, can't publish poem – it was a private commission). Then I had two poems of mine chosen to be read at weddings last year - one was chosen by a friend (she picked 'Diving' – it's on one of my postcards) and one was chosen by a complete stranger (she chose 'Don't squeeze my shoes' and I wrote about that and the poem is here). Then I also remembered that the very first poem I ever read out in public was one about weddings - it's called “A wedding poem (not to be read at weddings)” and it's in my book (p.27) and on my website (under 'poems', under 'occasions'). It's kind of silly (with a serious undertone)... but people often seem to like it. Some people have even said they want it read at their wedding (though I don't know if anyone would ever go ahead with that...it's a bit rude about brides).

So, that's it, I thought, I don't need to write anything new this week - I'll post the 'not to be read at weddings' one and that will do fine. And then I thought a bit about love... and what I might (in theory) write for Mark if we were ever getting married (no plans). I have written him a few love poems already but firstly you can never have too many and secondly after a little while I came up with something new so you may as well have it too! I haven't written a sonnet in ages... and in fact this one even ended up being a two-parter. I know people who write in traditional forms like this usually put in proper, thorough punctuation but it just doesn't work for me in poems (I did put in some full stops and then had to take them all out again – they just looked nasty). Also I know it's fairly unfashionable to use lines the way I do in serious poetry... but I like to really BREAK on a line-break (it just feels right to me). I pause, I breathe, sometimes I even go outside for a cigarette (no, that can't be right... I don't smoke...). Anyhow, I do it my way...(audio version here).



For the love of trees

I

For love the clichés roll - here are some samples
You are my rock, my light, my rose, my heart
But prisons can be built with such examples
And prison can't be where we want to start
If love is really everything we paint it
Then words must flock to match that perfect hue
We should beware for moons and stars can taint it
So I must look with care for words for you
I look at you and listen to your sound voice
I wonder what it is that makes you right
I'm grateful that, just once, I made a good choice
I thank my lucky stars, and moons, each night
And more than rock for me you are my tree
I can't think of a better thing to be


II

Like rowan you have colour, reach and daring
Like oak you have a strength that I adore
Like sycamore you're very good at sharing
Like silver birch you leave me wanting more
A forest tall of love is what you've grown me
Each branch I grasp, each leaf I try to learn
A simple style of love is what you've shown me
Though tough it is a love that takes a turn
Who ever knows if anything is evergreen?
Who wants to worry endlessly like me?
A name is all a weeping willow's ever been
A willow doesn't weep - it is a tree
And I may cry a tear for you some day
But until then fast to your bough I'll stay



RF 2010


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