Saturday, June 28, 2008

 

Wedding Toast

At the suggestion of David Norton, I've been reading some poems by Richard Wilbur, and I just found one I wish I had known about sooner. My son married a wonderful woman last month, and I stammered a barely coherent toast during the celebration. Here is a truly eloquent Wedding Toast by Richard Wilbur, the sort of thing I wish I had been able to say:
St. John tells how, at Cana's wedding feast,
The water-pots poured wine in such amount
That by his sober count
There were a hundred gallons at the least.

It made no earthly sense, unless to show
How whatsoever love elects to bless
Brims to a sweet excess
That can without depletion overflow.

Which is to say that what love sees is true;
That this world's fullness is not made but found.
Life hungers to abound
And pour its plenty out for such as you.

Now, if your loves will lend an ear to mine,
I toast you both, good son and dear new daughter.
May you not lack for water,
And may that water smack of Cana's wine.



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