Thursday, February 12, 2009

Happy Valentine Day!

For Valentine Day 2012, I will include a poem written 35 years ago. It is a fun piece I penned at the request of the Program Chairman for a Preachers' Sweetheart Banquet. The poem is full of cliches and inside humor for preachers by design but is a favorite of many.
WE



I was I and he was he - A ceremony made us "we.”
When in the sight of ... God and men . . .
We pledged our troth ...And kissed our kin
And set our sails . . . ...Breathlessly
On the matrimony sea.

My handsome prince . .. ...He held my hand.
My every wish . . . ...Was his command
Then one day . . .
I said, "I think we . . .
Should see my friends
. . . More frequently.

He said, so loud . .
It shook the house
That he was man . .
and not a mouse

And furthermore . . .
he said we should
See his friends . . .
he said we would.

He said, we would . . .
most certainly
I said, we won't . . .
We both said "we"

Strange, when we do . . .
Or don't agree
One thing is clear . . .
We both say "we"

Now here's the secret . . .
For love to grow
Through Summer's sun
. . . and Winter's snow

Through diaper rash
. . . And teething ills
From P.T.A. . . .
to college bills

Through three-point circuit
. . . And inner-city
And Pastor Parish
Relations Committee

Through Conference moving
time . . . again
When you’re not one . . .
of the "bishop's men."

Through covered dishes . . .
Well...thick and thin
Love like this . . .
will never end

For when we do . . .
or don't agree . . .
We still find joy . . .
in being '"we".
~by Ruth Baird Shaw

7 comments:

Jane said...

What sweet words. I will celebrate my 55th birthday on the same day as your anniversary!!
Uncle Charles was always very special to me. I loved him very much as I do you. I am so very fortunate to have such wonderful examples in my life.

Carol said...

How nice to see a new post at Ruthlace. Seventy years! Oh my goodness! That has always been one my favorites of your poems. Love you.

Carol said...

I'm at work - and decided to read your post again - just because I love that poem so much, and I get teary eyed reading what you wrote about Daddy. I think the light poem is my favorite of yours - but this is right up there at the top. I love you!

Anonymous said...

I've always loved that poem, Grandmother.

Gayla said...

Dear Miss Ruth,

Somehow I found your blog today. Your post touched my heart, as did the other posts I read.

My name is Gayla, I live in Whittier Ca. I love Jesus, and have walked w/ Him since I was 19 (in 1973 when I was a sophomore in college.)

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your life for others to be blessed.

Sincerely,
Gayla from Whittier, CA :)

Questing Parson said...

What a sweet memory and tribute. And, what a bride!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful words and wonderful poem. I can't believe 70 years.