On Your Wedding Day Poem by RIC BASTASA

it was time for the cake and the wine
the usual ceremony
like all weddings in our place
where everyone gets invited on a grand party

and there you are on your white suit
polished hair, shiny locks, the wedding ring now in your finger
the silver knife was handed
and you slice the chocolaty wedding cake with white icing laces
and some roses and tiny leaves

you sliced a big chunk and with a plate and fork
you handed it to her mouth
she was confused how to swallow such a big chunk
but she managed just the same
to take it
she did not ask you to divide it into smaller pieces
but how she wished
you were kind enough to do it for her

then the wine
the cork was too tight and then it was opened
your again poured much
more than half the glass and your arms entwined
you hand her
and she was obliged to drink that much
she whispered
it was too sweet and she did not like it
she wanted the usual wine
sour and sweet and a little bit bitter

and then yes the doves
you were not gentle in taking them out from the cage
held them too tight
and without taking any cue from her
you released your dove ahead adn she was again confused
and even slighted

a big chunk, a very sweet wine, doves that did not fly together
it was not just me who noticed it, some people who saw
what happened did not talk about it

now, the town is making a guess
whether you marriage will last
whether the pattern in your broken family shall not be repeated

your brother, your dad, your sister
they now live separately from his wife, from your mother, from her husband

but who knows, you will be the last to stand up
the last of the mohicans, the movie that you have not watched yet

but soon you will
because from there you must take your important cue