EPITHALAMIUM SESTINA

     by Leslie Clark 

All of us are striving to believe
that there is something here in which to trust.
A magic that can set the spirit free
to pursue that which is worthy of desire.
To make our boldest dreams within our reach,
tether stars to pull them toward our touch.

To communicate true meaning through our touch
is one means we can harness to believe
that love can be well within our reach.
That there is another person we can trust,
though love can be confused with mere desire.
It's difficult to set the body free

from lust to let our truer selves run free
and reach another through more than mere touch
of skin against the skin in pure desire.
It often isn't easy to believe
that mind in harmony with mind can trust
and true communication is in reach.

Along the way we struggle, weep and reach
for dreams that seem determined to run free
away on their own paths, beyond our trust
in our ability to ever touch
the meaning that we search for, to believe
that we can venture close to our desires.

To look into tender eyes and see desire,
it seems that everything is within reach.
But twisted paths stunt willingness to believe
it's better to connect than to be free
from love, from need for one person’s touch,
from trying for a love in which to trust.

But day by day your lives begin to trust
in one another's innermost desire
to build a life of hope, of loving touch
and goals that can be well within your reach.
Marriage is a new way to be free
to create a bond in which you can believe.

Trust in yourselves, together you can reach
desires for your lives.  You can be free
to touch the dreams in which you both believe.