Amidst flowers, wine in hand, my lover I embrace
King of the world is my slave on such a day in such a place.
Bring no candles to this, our festive feast, tonight
Full moon is pale beside the light of my lover’s face.
Drinking of wine, our creed has sanctified
Yet without you, drinking wine is disgrace.
My ears only hear the song of the harp and the reed
My eyes see your ruby lips, and the cup chase.
Keep perfumes away from our feast tonight
The fragrance of your hair, our feast will grace.
Speak not to me of sweetness of candy and sugar;
Since my lips, sweetness of your lips, did once trace.
Your treasures are hidden in the ruins of my heart
And my path to the tavern has now become sacred space.
Speak not of disgrace; that’s my fame and my base
And fame and high place, I despise and debase.
Drunk and disconcerted and demented and deceived
Show me one who’s not, within our town and our race.
Fault not the pious one, because he, also, like us,
Is seeking love and grace, in his own way, at his own pace.
Hafiz, wine in hand, always your lover embrace
‘Cause flowers and joy fill this festive time and space.

Where things lead. You never think that the college roommate you used to see jumping around amid sweaty people at a Black Happy concert would 12 years later be quoting a 14th century Persion poet at your wedding when you and your pals sent off postcards to the Universal Life Chruch for instant priest credentials.Maryam and I were married in Olympia on September 16, in a fun, impromptu backyard wedding ceremony Karina and John were our respective bride’s maid and best man. John Harvey our official photographer. Like much in the way we live our lives, this was short on planning. We were on the way up to the Thurston County Courthouse to fill out the application and see about having a judge there do the business of joining us in matrimony. Karina and John, who I’m staying with in Olympia while working for the Rachel Corrie Foundation.Thanks John and Karina for hosting this. Thanks to John Harvey for photographing it. Thanks to Sharon Harvey for the impromptu check-up of our forthcoming family addition. Thanks to Seth for officiating and to Kirsten, Dusti and Kelly for the room at Swantown Bed ‘n Breakfast. Thanks to the family for putting up with me. Much thanks to Seth for the quickly hatched but superb ceremony. Special thanks to Maryam for saying ‘yes.’

his Marriage - Ode 2667May these vows and this marriage be blessed.
May it be sweet milk,
this marriage, like wine and halvah.
May this marriage offer fruit and shade
like the date palm.
May this marriage be full of laughter,
our every day a day in paradise.
May this marriage be a sign of compassion,
a seal of happiness here and hereafter.
May this marriage have a fair face and a good name,
an omen as welcome
as the moon in a clear blue sky.
I am out of words to describe
how spirit mingles in this marriage.

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