All These and More

I am promenading in the woods Whistling at the birds The rays of the sun Now and again interrupting my vision Then something moves Something- like a woman Her glamour- what say? I halt- the power attending How very smashing She moves, actually peacocks Towards me; closer, closer Now I am all smiles All smiles and tears Her arms outstretched Mine, too, outstretched We are now drawing closer we are moving Like we were on the moon With a spring, bouncing Slowly towards an embrace Eyes, ears, arms and smiles The whole machine feeling for company Full of nothing but joy As the distance between us narrows I hear small bells tolling I hear small babies pattering I hear the laughter of maidens And as we lock our arms together In a violent embrace There in the woods I see beautiful nymphs All around our embrace Holding their parasols high Dancing to the reggae In the tropical sun All this I see, and more… I notice that while locked we stood With my bountiful beloved A thousand maidens emerge All in white and with roses And yellow scarves In each hand a bouquet Of the best assortment of flowers On their lips stands a song Which I know to one Composed by a great poet To all that trade in marriage I smile at my beloved The queen of my soul And as we walk in state I see gold in her finger And more on mine I kiss her brow and lo! The perfume! The diamonds surrounding! Then the doors of the cathedral Open in front of us At the pulpit- the bishop His eyes raised above us The Holy Book in place And on either side The attendants: All practitioners of the faith! We step inside the edifice The congregation stands And sings a welcome; The train behind us The bishops and attendants The tolling of the bells The bride and maids And I the Prince. All these I see, and more… As we seal the pact And vow to God To be, now and always Till death do us part And set our hands To ‘these presents’ I see twins at the brook By our country home Playing hide and seek And mother and father Standing hand in hand Watching them, bemused And I see a house Happy and prosperous Where dwell two pretty maidens And three handsome lads And the greatest promise Sealed in the woods Is kept. And I wake up To the ticking of the clock After the hour of eight And all the sorrows of bachelorhood Come knocking at my door!