For thirty seven years I've lived
as half of one great whole
On Flag Day wed those years ago
our banner on the pole
We've fought life, and lived to tell
so many others fell
Of love and hope and family
our generations swell
The one before and six she bore
expand our borders wide
They've given us now seventeen
that fill my heart with pride
In this day of throw-away when
antiques aren't the norm
We are a long established pair
that's weathered oft a storm
The Justice took a vow from each
and sealed it with a ring
A symbol of eternity
this gold and shiny thing
It seemed to them, we fastly wed
with less than chastely mien
For Friday wed, just Wednesday said
no baby made the scene
One on one for five short years
'til childless we were not
But love to us, took flesh and breath
our lovely towhaired tot
Two more before our first was three
then rest is best, said she
Two years a girl, two years a boy
two more the last young he
These thirty years from first 'til now
have sped by in a dash
I blink and turn and now discern
what seems a temporal flash
Now looking back where we began
I'm awed how years have fled
Since the time we spake the rhyme
"With this ring, I thee wed"
Richard Higley © June 2011
