Ruby For Us

a date ringed in red
on a February calendar
fixed to an old kitchen wall
saw the only snowfall of winter
settle in hushed silence

as a Liverpool lad prepared
to wed his London lass
with a celebration for family
and friends who had travelled
from afar

who no doubt uttered a few
well chosen expletives at
uninvited white stuff and a
downslide by degrees on their
thermometers

while still enjoying
a fine three course meal at
Pangbourne’s George Hotel
with its roaring log fires
freshly pressed table linen
and roots tucked into Medieval
history

with the ghost of Betty Price
a sixteenth century witch
present in the narrow corridors
who died in the dark cellars
where she hid from her superstitious
captors

but not before she cursed
the place and the local parson
together with anyone else
who played a part in her
demise

no worries there for us
or from the detective we chatted
to as he propped the bar up
long after our guests had
departed

who delighted
on hearing of our nuptials
gleefully informed us that
our chances of happy ever afters
with our clash of personalities
was precisely zilch

well he got that one wrong
didn’t he darling

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I love the wedding. I haven't been to any lately. Always a interesting conversation to be found. I liked the description of people and life dear Chris. Thank you dear friend for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Coyote. I love weddings too. Sadly there don’t seem to be that many these days. It is more funerals. Have a good Sunday my fellow poet.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

Me too. Too many funerals and you are welcome dear Chris.

[Lorry]

Forty years eh? How time flies, but not when you're talking about witches and curses. I bet you couldn't wait for the nuptials to be over and skedaddle elsewhere on honeymoon, perhaps somewhere without such colourful history.
A bit naughty from the disillusioned detective, but maybe he done you a favour by making you determined to prove him wrong.
If you met him again today, he'd probably just say you'd have been out by now... Or your hubby wood. 😊
Many congratulations on the ever continuing journey for you both.

[Chris Shaw]

You know Lorry, we have often spoken over the years about that Detective drowning his sorrows at the bar. Yes, unlucky in love :) Our grandchildren can’t begin to contemplate 40 years with the same person, let alone marrying them:)) We tell them we believe in fixing things rather than throwing them out. Thanks for stopping by.

[Lorry]

We done a lot wrong, but some day they'll see what we got right too.

[Chris Shaw]

Aye. We also know the importance of freedom and freedom of speech which seems to be flushed down the pan more and more these days :)

[Lorry]

I know, bless 'em. I'm still sticking to my hardcore versions or Roald Dahl, where words like fat and ugly are still allowed. Pah! It's only words and they do come in handy to explain fat, ugly people. Plus, isn't enormous more of an insult than fat? Blah! 😊

[Chris Shaw]

Yes, we are the same. We like the fat controller in Thomas the Tank!! The world is going bloody nuts and we aren’t going down that path. Don’t get me on pronouns or that tart Sam Smith who incidentally I’ve bought his music in the past.

[Lorry]

I know. I'm all for letting people be what they identify as (yes, really... If we let everyone be, think how many problems would disappear!) but all this "they" lark ill just pretend I can't hear and shout "I'm deaf! They who? And look around confused for more than one of what we used to call people. I better stop before I annoy the hipsters again, like they're a bloody race! 😊

[Chris Shaw]

Of course. Happy that you identify as a penguin Lorry. Live and let live but leave the English language as it is. It’s survived thousands of years and was good enuff for Shakespeare and his ilk. Happy Sunday.

[Sami Khalil]

I was happy to see the wedding commence, then got intrigued by the witch and the end-game of the marriage.
Very interesting. Not sure how long the wedding lasted.
Thank you for sharing dear Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Sami. Just reflecting on that special day forty years ago. We have just celebrated again with family and friends. Ruby anniversary.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! You are welcome muchly. Congratulations