At the Rehearsal Dinner

My son, I will give you a bit of advice.

It's entirely free, though it carries a price.

As you enjoy this evening, all set to embark,

Know that marriage is a walk in the park.

As you start down the path, hand in hand, just you two,

Beautiful flowers and shrubs fill your field of view.

But looking ahead, take note that the way

Seems just a bit hazy, not quite on display.

You have yet to build out a path to your dream.

You’ll need to work hard and do so as a team.

You have to make plans and some hard-choice decisions;

Then, just as you think that you’ve nailed them, revisions.

Your path isn’t paved till you lay down your life

For her to walk on – that’s the truth of having a wife.

Yes, she’ll do the same, or you’re not truly wed,

But think first, last and always of easing her tread.

This park you meander has its peaks and its vales.

At times, you’ll despair of finding good trails.

But, if you give her your best, in old age you’ll remark

That you loved every step of your walk in the park.

Copyright ©2015, Paul H. Harder II

This poem is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 License.