Paul chose this reading to recite at his son and daughter in laws’ intimate lakefront wedding ceremony last month. It’s not a romantic poem however it describes the reality of marriage. The final 3 words hit home with me… marriage is madness.
This poem is beautifully crafted but handed down to us by anonymous writers. So, we can only thank these great artists who have chosen to stay uncredited. However, they have provided us with such lovely poetry for wedding ceremonies.
This one is simply titled
“Marriage”
Marriage is about giving and taking
And forging and forsaking
Kissing and loving and pushing and shoving
Caring and Sharing and screaming and swearing
About being together whatever the weather
About being driven to the end of your tether
About Sweetness and kindness
And wisdom and blindness
It’s about being strong when you’re feeling quite weak
It’s about saying nothing when you’re dying to speak
It’s about being wrong when you know you are right
It’s about giving in, before there’s a fight
It’s about you two living as cheaply as one
(you can give us a call if you know how that’s done!)
Never heeding advice that was always well meant
Never counting the cost until it’s all spent
And for you two today it’s about to begin
And for all that the two of you had to put in
Some days filled with joy, and some days with sadness
Too late you’ll discover that marriage is madness
