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The Art Of A Good Marriage
Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
A good marriage must be created. In marriage the little things are the
big things. It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry. It is at no time taking the other for
granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should
continue through the years. It is having a mutual sense of values and
common objectives. It is standing together facing the world. It is
forming a circle of love that gathers the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or
sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of
appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating
flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humour.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other
an atmosphere in which each can grow old. It is a common search for the
good and the beautiful. It is establishing a relationship in which the
independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is
reciprocal. It is not only marrying the right partner; it is being the
right partner.
Wilferd Arlan Peterson (1900-1995)
On Marriage
Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?" And
he answered saying: You were born together, and together you shall be
forevermore. You shall be together when white wings of death scatter
your days. Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let winds of the
heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill
each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your
bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be
joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute
are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but
not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain
your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together: For the
pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow
not in each other's shadow.
Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)
We hope that you were able to use one of these poems in that special
project you have for the wonderful couple. We also hope that these
poems will inspire the newlyweds to work hard at their marriage so it
will be strong and full of love over the years to come.
Content complied by
Julie Hebert |
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Additional Marriage Poems:
Why Marriage?
Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person,
With all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body...
Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me,
Who won't hold them against me,
Who loves me when I'm unlikable,
Who sees the small child in me, and
Who looks for the divine potential of me...
Becasue I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night
With someone who thanks God for me,
With someone I feel blessed to hold...
Because marriage means opportunity
To grow in love in friendship...
Because marriage is a discipline
To be added to a list of achievements...
Because marriages do not fail, people fail
When they enter into marriage
Expecting another to make them whole...
Because, knowing this,
I promise myself to take full responsibility
For my spiritual, mental and physical wholeness
I create me, I take half of the responsibility for my marriage
Together we create our marriage...
Because of this understanding
The possibilities are limitless.
Author Unknown
Marriage Bells
Music and silver chimes and sunlit air,
Freighted with the scent of honeyed orange-flower;
Glad, friendly festal faces everywhere.
She, rapt from all in this unearthly hour,
With cloudlike, cast-back veil and faint-flushed cheek,
In bridal beauty moves as in a trance
Alone with him, and fears to breathe, to speak,
Lest the rare, subtle spell dissolve perchance.
But he upon that floral head looks down,
Noting the misty eyes, the grave sweet brow--
Doubts if her bliss be perfect as his own,
And dedicates anew with inward vow
His soul unto her service, to repay
Richly the sacrifice she yields this day.
Emma Lazarus (1849-1887)
A Marriage
We met
under a shower
of bird-notes.
Fifty years passed,
love's moment
in a world in
servitude to time.
She was young;
I kissed with my eyes
closed and opened
them on her wrinkles.
`Come,' said death,
choosing her as his
partner for
the last dance, And she,
who in life
had done everything
with a bird's grace,
opened her bill now
for the shedding
of one sigh no
heavier than a feather.
R. S. Thomas (1913-2000)
Epithalamium: A Marriage Poem
'Twas summer, when softly the breezes were blowing,
And Hudson majestic so sweetly was flowing,
The groves rang with music & accents of pleasure
And nature in rapture beat time to the measure,
When Helen and Jonas, so true and so loving,
Along the green lawn were seen arm in arm moving,
Sweet daffodils, violets and roses spontaneous
Wherever they wandered sprang up instantaneous.
The ascent the lovers at length were seen climbing
Whose summit is grac'd by the temple of Hymen:
The genius presiding no sooner perceived them
But, spreading his pinions, he flew to receive them;
With kindest of greetings pronounced them well come
While hollidays clangor rang loud to the welkin.
Major Henry Livingston, Jr.
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