I beseech you, husband
Be kind to me
And I beseech you, wife
Be fond with me
Travel closely with me
And keep me, loving, near
I am with you a lifelong time
Shorelines walked with truest hearts
With mind and soul and body
We face the world complete
And from our loving selves
May new life, joyful, leap.
This day is ours from which all springs
From here begin all our rememberings.
It’s here that life and death perhaps, weigh upon us, strangely still
So silently the twelve souls tick and measure snail-paced time
Until two more arrive to break the heartbeat of the ever waiting room
And so another joins and jolts us with her muted, half-heard voice
Not vital matters of the State but just an irksome quaver overheard.
Another, close by me, clicks her polished nails upon her shiny chair
In clicketty beat known only to her inner orchestra now grandly playing
Until she’s called, leaving the empty chair recovering from her form
Resuming life as a patient chair desiring to soothe, once more, another
As the twilight of time itself clicks on another notch with we who wait.
I’m th’ master of me golden ale
An’ that’s th’ way to be
But should it lead to th’ olden jail
I’d run away to sea.
Yet I’d be back, no need to frown
I’d race me home for thee
I’d dance a jig from Bridport town
To clasp thee on me knee.
An’ home again, me bonny girl
I’d never again depart
We’ll marry wi’ a ring o’ pearl
For th’ mistress of me heart.
An’ who shall say t’was just a song
We’re golden as th’ day is long.
I once knew a most noble Venetian
Whose honour was above suspicion
Until he performed on a gondola moored
With the wife of Senator Luigi aboard
Since when he’s pretended contrition.
I’ve struggled to reach Kilrenny
While desperate to spend a penny
Cross-legged contortions
Strained the body’s proportions
And gave one hell of a shock to poor Jenny!
There once was a Count of Belgrade
Who appeared remarkably staid
Until, after whisky
Undressed and right frisky
The housemaids were acutely afraid.