by Mary Saracino
no bands of gold, no tiered cake, no training veils
of lacy white, no engraved invitations, no roses entwined
in hair, short or long, no gifts wrapped in silver paper
no bells ringing, no mother or father to smile and beam
no certificate inked with official signatures
no baby’s breath bouquets, no minister or priest
no Jordan almonds to decorate china plates
no champagne toasts, no tears of joy, no eloquent speeches
no colorful streamers kissing the edges of chrome bumpers
no honking horns, no waving well-wishers
No way
merely two women in love, defying the No of laws
subverting the notion of matrimony, two souls
eye to eye, under the starry sky or the cloudless morning
daring Yes, making a marriage where none is perceived
forging a union where one is forbidden, enacting
a lifelong commitment where one is denounced
vowing to have and to hold, from this day forward
‘til death do they part, despite what the naysayers say
Mary Saracino is a novelist, memoir writer, and poet who lives in Denver, CO. Her newest novel, The Singing of Swans is to be published by Pearlsong Press in October 2006.