River, be their teacher,
that together they may turn
their future highs and lows
into one hopeful flow

Two opposite shores
feeding from a single source.
Mountain, be their milestone,
that hand in hand they rise above
familiarity’s worn tracks
into horizons of their own
Two separate footpaths
dreaming of a common peak.

Birdsong, be their mantra,
that down the frail aisles of their days,
their twilight hearts twitter morning
and their dreams prove branch enough.

In John Agard’s ‘Nuptials’, he looks to nature as a source of inspiration for a long, successful marriage. He hopes the couple can learn from rivers, mountains and birdsong. “River, be their teacher”, “Mountain, be their milestone”, “Birdsong, be their mantra”.

He urges them to keep their relationship fresh “hand in hand they rise above/familiarity’s worn tracks”, and take the good times with the bad times “together they may turn/their future highs and lows/into one hopeful flow.”

This idea of taking the good with the bad and coming out the other side is also shared by Denny Bradbury in her work for a wedding ‘Holding Hands!’. She writes that “The golden days and cloudy ones will merge as if one!”.

She also uses nature to advise the bride and groom, saying that “Life is made of rock as well as sand!” She urges the couple to look to the future with excitement, “Dance into your future with delight!”.

Both Agard and Bradbury hope that love will conquer all, with Agard writing “down the frail aisles of their days,/their twilight hearts twitter morning/and their dreams prove branch enough.” and Bradbury advising “Dark shadows may be lurking that may even seem to move!/But they will disappear as long as you know how to love!”

Denny Bradbury – Holding Hands!

Walk into the future holding hands!
Life is made of rock as well as sand!
No looking back except to glance and learn from where you come!
No staring at what might have been across what’s past and done!
Walk into the future holding hands!

Dance into your future with delight!
See only what is positive and right!
Dark shadows may be lurking that may even seem to move!
But they will disappear as long as you know how to love!
Dance into your future with delight!

Sing into your future let your song!
Be wonderful harmonious and long!
The golden days and cloudy ones will merge as if as one!
Highlight all the happy times let rain bring on the sun!
Sing into your future let your song!
Be wonderful harmonious and long!