In honour of one of my favourite nieces getting married on a cruise ship somewhere very exotic, I am reminded of this poem which I have published today, here on Write Out Loud (click to read the poem) with it’s original title, ‘I am love’.
In 2004, I was asked to write something to be read at the wedding of an honorary nephew. Normally I don’t write poetry ‘to order’, preferring to let poems ‘grab’ me, but knowing how romantic he is – and the special request for something to be ‘signed’ by an interpreter, I found I was inspired.
It was a challenge because, not only was I going to be presenting something to wedding guests who in the majority would not be ‘into’ poetry, but also to be careful to tailor the words to interpretation for many audience who were hearing impaired, some profoundly ‘deaf’.
Poetry lovers love ‘shmultzy’ and rhyme but non-poetry lovers hate that. So I had to be mindful of my construction and rather, chose to speak as if making a vow which most of the audience would expect at a wedding.
And because I used dust as my analogy, the interpreter had a challenge to sign my words ~ there’s no sign for ‘dust’ so the lady also had to be inventive whilst keeping up with the rest of the poem.
The poem was read as part of the wedding ceremony and I have to say (I’m a sucker for a pretty wedding) it was difficult not letting the emotion overwhelm my reading, so I paced myself carefully, allowing for surreptitious gulps between sentences.
As I finished there was a heavy, deathly silence in which I died a hundred deaths thinking the wedding guests had hated my words but was shocked when suddenly this tremendous applause burst out to cover the sniffs. There was barely a dry eye! Barry’s Mum particularly loved the words and her deaf friends asked for copies of the poem.
It’s been used at a few weddings now and in cards, so you are also welcome to use it. If you do include it in your special day, please let me know, just as a courtesy.
Thanks ~ and may you always be surrounded by dust…
#WeddingDay #Poetry #WeddingVows #Romance #Love #POEM:LikeDust #FrancesMacaulayForde
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