Litany
(Read by Jen to Stephen)
You are the bread and the knife,
the crystal goblet and the wine.
You are the dew on the morning grass
and the burning wheel of the sun.
You are the white apron of the baker
and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.
However, you are not the wind in the orchard,
the plums on the counter,
or the house of cards.
And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.
There is just no way you are the pine-scented air.
It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,
maybe even the pigeon on the general's head,
but you are not even close
to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.
And a quick look in the mirror will show
that you are neither the boots in the corner
nor the boat asleep in its boathouse. ...
Waiting for the Bride: The Judge, the Dog, the Groom
The Duet:
In which Jen and Stephen sing together for the first time, the song that Stephen sang for my wedding 18 years ago.
The Coin Toss: Which determines that Jen must first say her story of Stephen, which was breathtaking. The poem "Litany," which is interspersed here, she also read (with some modification).
Introducing the Farmer and His Wife: Stephen Cummins, owner of Indian Creek Farm and Cummins Nursery, and Dr. Jennifer Schwarz, assistant professor of physics, Syracuse University
The Getaway Tractor: Equipped with balloons and bubbles
The Great Balloon Release
... It might interest you to know,
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
that I am the sound of rain on the roof.
I also happen to be the shooting star,
the evening paper blowing down an alley,
and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.
I am also the moon in the trees
and the blind woman's tea cup.
But don't worry, I am not the bread and the knife.
You are still the bread and the knife.
You will always be the bread and the knife,
not to mention the crystal goblet and—somehow—the wine.
Billy Collins, “Litany” from Nine Horses. This poem originally appeared in the February 2002 issue of Poetry.
(And if you want to see more photos of this tremendous occasion, you can view my whole album here.)
(Read by Jen to Stephen)
You are the bread and the knife,
the crystal goblet and the wine.
You are the dew on the morning grass
and the burning wheel of the sun.
You are the white apron of the baker
and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.
However, you are not the wind in the orchard,
the plums on the counter,
or the house of cards.
And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.
There is just no way you are the pine-scented air.
It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,
maybe even the pigeon on the general's head,
but you are not even close
to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.
And a quick look in the mirror will show
that you are neither the boots in the corner
nor the boat asleep in its boathouse. ...
Waiting for the Bride: The Judge, the Dog, the Groom
The Duet:
In which Jen and Stephen sing together for the first time, the song that Stephen sang for my wedding 18 years ago.
The Coin Toss: Which determines that Jen must first say her story of Stephen, which was breathtaking. The poem "Litany," which is interspersed here, she also read (with some modification).
Introducing the Farmer and His Wife: Stephen Cummins, owner of Indian Creek Farm and Cummins Nursery, and Dr. Jennifer Schwarz, assistant professor of physics, Syracuse University
The Getaway Tractor: Equipped with balloons and bubbles
The Great Balloon Release
... It might interest you to know,
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
that I am the sound of rain on the roof.
I also happen to be the shooting star,
the evening paper blowing down an alley,
and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.
I am also the moon in the trees
and the blind woman's tea cup.
But don't worry, I am not the bread and the knife.
You are still the bread and the knife.
You will always be the bread and the knife,
not to mention the crystal goblet and—somehow—the wine.
Billy Collins, “Litany” from Nine Horses. This poem originally appeared in the February 2002 issue of Poetry.
(And if you want to see more photos of this tremendous occasion, you can view my whole album here.)
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