For an Island Wedding
A poem by John Barr
Once there was an inland sea,
its waters blue and beautiful
with absence, for there was nothing else
and this was once upon a time.
Out of this sea an island rose,
its conifers green with abundance,
its reaches white where the waves climbed,
and this was once upon a time.
Out of the island there rose a town,
its streets busy with men,
its harbor brown with boats
busy with cargoes of the time.
Out of the town a church was raised,
its walls in all simplicity
contained like hands the faith
and the fervor of that time.
And out of this church that rose from the town
that rose from the island that rose from the sea
a man and woman came and joined.
Their love was green with abundance
and white where the waves climbed
and beautiful and blue. And it held like hands
in all simplicity our time,
and other times and once upon a time.
John Barr’s poems have been published in six books, four fine press editions, and many magazines, including The New York Times, Poetry, and others. John was also the Inaugural President of the Poetry Foundation. His newest book, The Boxer of Quirinal, was published by Red Hen Press and longlisted for the PEN/Voelcker Award for a Poetry Collection in 2024. You can view more of his work on his web site, or Instagram, and sign up for his free newsletter.
