Love and Friendship, deux:

To Jacques & Marguerite

 

On the day of their wedding…

 

What sweet enraptures a flower inspires?

Of sweet perfume and beautiful colors,

the fierce sadness of pain it retires,

and brings forth tender sighs from lovers.

 

In His creation, God Artist almighty

gave us sense, smell and sight

to admire His altruistic might

and appreciate material beauty.

 

Aren’t friends like flowers’ ploy?

Don’t they share pain and joy?

They give to life sense and flavor,

grief, inspiration and valor.

 

God, with great wisdom and foresight,

in addition to senses, gave the heart.

To appreciate friends, emotion:

love, happiness, joy and compassion.

 

God said: “I am light, the only truth and wise,

to my sons and daughters, I gave my liberty.

To leave you alone is a vile necessity,

but my love I send in friends’ guise.”

 

“I made you with love and conscience.

You are witnesses to my love and presence,

to whom my Son I sent for deliverance:

to have faith and love is to have consequence.”

 

“In the wrong places I’m sought.

God of luxury, fury and rancor, I’m not.

I am with you, yesterday, tomorrow and today.

Wherever you go will also be my way.”

 

“You are flowers that came from heaven above,

to be my witnesses and angels each moment.

You can be prodigies of fertile love,

a free choice, a profound commitment.”

 

So Bob and Marguerite, here you are today,

is love and friendship forever to stay?

Remember when loving gets tough,

when following The Road is rough,

real love is a free choice.

Let us all say it in one voice:

 

I AM the flower from God above,

a witness and angel, messenger of His true love.

I will follow The Road, love you when hard it’s so,

do the work and have the courage to grow.

I choose always to be your friend,

a commitment that’ll never end.

 

Pedro Marenco

©  July 20, 1996

Sacramento, CA