Epithalamium

Let girlfriends cry for you in vain
Let mothers foot the bill
Let small pink pills help keep you sane
And fathers stand quite still.

Let all the guests stammer in
And take a crowded seat.
Let the priest denounce all sin
And stutter in the heat.

Let children move with anxious souls
While sitting in the pews.
Let red-faced women feel like fools
And bribe their little youths.

Let the song they’ve waited for
start playing on the keys.
Let them stand and face the door
to watch me walk with ease.

Let the camera’s shining flash
Close my eyes with haste
Let distorted smiles last
No longer on my face

The crowd is large and quiet now
paper fans control the heat
I see the couple come in late
and stumble to their seat.

The two boys sitting 5 pews back
are shoving in the row.
An old man planning his attack,
Finally tells them “NO!”

There is an ant upon his shirt!
Just climbing to the top!
The preacher sees the spot of dirt
And flicks the ant right off!

I smile now but bite my lip
Not knowing what to say
Let the man just kiss the bride
And take this all away!