On Our Eighteenth Wedding Anniversary

For my wife.

I remember the storms on our wedding day.

Strong winds blew down trees, foreshadowed

The tempests to come; and when I say

Storms blew through our home, I mean they tornadoed

Into the depths of our lives, stripped away

The flotsam of life, leaving only ourselves,

Our love, and our commitment to each other.

Now, when I see you, your smile is more bright,

Having withstood the winds most don't bother

To endure, shaking off the rain, warming the light

Frost beginning to encase my heart.

And these endure, that your stolid grace

Saved my weary spirit, left me in place

Buoyed by your love, captivated, speechless.

Author's Note

Any suggestions and comments are welcome.