Two Poems

There will never be enough time

Just married—Las Vegas, NV, 5.9.92. Photo: Ed Templeton

I Do
(2025)

I open my eyes in the morning
I do
I start every day lying next to you

Our nest is empty now
But my heart’s still full
The best of times is always
right here and now

It’s not tradition that sanctifies
But our reflection in each other’s eyes

It’s not law, these ties that bind
But a union of the sublime

A life together—meant to be
Passion and compassion
Love and family

Thirty-three years
the calendar displays
But there will never be enough time
to count the ways

I close my eyes at night
I do
I end every day lying next to you

Las Vegas, NV, 5.10.92. Photo: Ed Templeton

Marriage
(1995)

We borrowed your daddy’s car
And assured him it’d be alright
We gassed up ‘round the corner
And drove into the night
Through the California desert
Together we did ride
Out there on the same highway
That took your grandpa’s life

Now we ain’t out searching for an oasis
And were cautious of the mirage
We drove all night to this island of lights
Just looking for a place to lodge
They stuck us in a dirty little room
And they took all of our money
And they tried to kick us out of the casino
For not looking old enough, buddy

Inside you our love is growing
But we’ve got to take care of legalities
So, we rode down to The Chapel of Love
And girl, I got down on my knees
I wrote the man a check
Then we got into a limousine
We rode back to our room
And sat around watching TV

Back through that dusty desert
Our four-hour honeymoon
Husband and wife, together for life
With a baby coming soon
Now, I can remember standing in that Rose Room
Looking into them brown eyes and thinking
I’m the luckiest damn guy in the world
To be marrying you

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