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Mrs. Lovebug, Tucson Age and Occupation in 06: 31, Writer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Professional Game Show Contestant Engagement Date: February 18, 2007 Wedding Date: April 19, 2008 Venue: Historic Inn About Me: Likes: blogging, wikis, semi-colons, cuddling, fragrant flowers, syntax, and spooning. Dislikes: typos, dangling modifiers, flypaper, citronella candles, and run-ons. If I had my druthers, I'd exchange simple vows in a candlelit library. But I lost my druthers long ago...anyone seen them?
About Mrs. Lovebug

Love In The Time of Coleridge

February 28th, 2008 @ 5:29 pm by Mrs. Lovebug

I’ve been spending some time looking for ceremony readings lately. I’ve found some beautiful pieces, but it seemed like there was something missing. I didn’t know what it was, really. I just knew there was something I wanted to express to Mr. LB, but couldn’t find captured anywhere. So I sat down and wrote it myself.

To frame it, all you have to know (and that which you might know already) is that I’m a big, wordy, too-well-read-for-her-own-good geek, who sometimes can unintentionally come off uppity about her educational background. That, and the subject of romance - and romantic gestures - is one of some sensitivity between us. As in, every so often I become convinced that Mr. Lovebug isn’t being enough of a knight in shining armor and needs to take Wooing 101. Sometimes I’m right about this…and sometimes I’m wrong. Funny how that works. ;)

I want Mr. Lovebug to know, though, that he shows me his love in the every day domesticity of our life together. That while I sometimes give him a hard time about not being the guy that springs opera tickets and champagne while on a sunset hot air balloon ride, at the end of the day, I know he treasures me. The little things, you know? And I wanted something that captures OUR little things, specifically.

Anyway, it’s filled with punnage, literary and pop references galore, and stylistic chaos. Pure me, in other words.

Love in the Time of Coleridge

Sweetie, you don’t know Wordsworth
worth a damn.

And it’s a good thing we don’t love in the time of Coleridge,
because the Romantics aren’t what I like about you.

I don’t wear a bonnet while you recite sonnets
in perfect Petrarchan pitch.

So let’s dispense with Spenser and let Byrons be Byrons
and I’ll tell you simply why I’m here.

It’s the bunnies, honey, and how you chop their carrots.
I don’t need Shakespeare, dear, when you whisper in my ear
that yes, you’ll run my errands so I can sleep an hour here

in our room made dark as umber
to protect my fragile slumber.

You indulge me, every day. You support me, in every way.
The thoughtfulness and precision with which you prepare
my afternoon tea would put Dante and his quill to shame.

Really. Beatrice or be your bride? I’ve clearly the better deal.

And while we’re at it, have I told you how awesome it is
when you bring me a bowl of cold blackberries while I’m in a hot bath? That’s poetry.

You can’t buy a gumball with a five dollar word. And blowing bubbles is more fun than parsing a stanza on an itchy picnic blanket.

And though roses are red and violets are blue, your sweet crooked smile
is all I need from you.
Only this, and nothing more.
Quoth your maven, evermore.

———————

I don’t know that anyone will even get all of it. But it doesn’t matter. I wrote it for me, and for my husband, and I know it’s meaningful because I started to tear up just writing it. Crazy, right? Just a silly little poem, and I got all choked up.

Think I could practice it enough to be able to read it to him without crying? Or should I hand it over to a friend so I can hear it and enjoy it as well?

27 Responses to “Love In The Time of Coleridge”

1.
Natakie16 says:

That is simply quite beautiful. I think you’ll be able to practice and read it yourself on your wedding day- no one can express the love behind your words or even a quirky smile at a part that has a really special meaning to you both like you can. Good luck!

2.
Angel says:

Wow, that’s cool. You’re right; I didn’t get quite everything that was written, but I got the feelings you conveyed. And imagine the expression on his face when he hears it. People will understand it enough.

You can try having someone read it to you now and see if they do as good a job as you have in your head. If you’d rather read it to him yourself, you can try memorizing it, but have cheat cards incase you drop a line. Don’t forget to give a copy to your coorindator and officiant just incase you forget.

3.
ChicagoSarah says:

Oh, Miss Lovebug, I’m tearing up just reading it, perhaps in part because I have a similar dynamic in my relationship. I’m the University of Chicago graduate marrying the college dropout who just happens to be the best person I’ve ever met. I so want you to be able to read it yourself! But I’m worried about getting emotional during our vows too, and I have no idea whether practice will help. Is it too personal to put in your program so your English geek friends can enjoy all of the references? I would want to see that in writing if I heard it read…

4.
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Miss Canary says:

I love it Lovebug (and your Beatrice reference is quite slick…)! :) I think you should read it, though I claim I won’t cry, I’d probably blubber through the whole thing.

5.
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Miss Jasmine says:

I love it. You ust read it during the ceremony– even if you cry, it will be such a special moment.

6.
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Mrs. Corn says:

I love you. Will you marry ME?

PS - you should read it.

7.
Linda says:

Awesome. You gotta read it.

8.
MissJenny says:

Ugh, I’m tearing up at work. That is simply lovely and wonderful and I think you should read it.

9.
jenniferb says:

That is fantastic! I vote for reading it yourself, if you can.
Did I have a Miss LB sighting in Sabino Canyon on Monday night?

10.
ATaleofTwoCities says:

I was an English major in college and I simply LOVE this piece you wrote - awesome job!

11.
fatafelice says:

Completely beautiful, completely funny, and completely meaningful. Wonderful job.

12.
GetMarried4Less says:

you HAVE to read it to him…..really, no one but you could inflect the way you want it…get the flow right…..you may end up hearing their mistakes instead of your words…..unless you practiced it with them. over. and over. and over…

it will be beautiful……and so what is you cry?

;)

13.
brendalynn says:

LOVE it & you should read it & I like ChicagoSarah’s idea: Print it too! When a poem’s ripe with references, sometimes it’s easier to have a moment between lines to relish them…

14.
mrswhitetobe says:

it was very clever and meaningful. yep, read it to him. only you could deliver those words in your tone.

15.
emily says:

love love LOVE this. too bad I probably won’t be able to get through the simple i do’s, let alone this, without losing it. but read it, definitely.

16.
Louski says:

As an individual who holds a degree in advanced composition and rhetoric, I get all the references. I love it! After reading your posts for a while now, it seems to fit your personality perfectly. That’s why he loves you, right? So, you definitely need to read it to him.

17.
Jessica says:

Sounds great! I once read a tip that you can read/rehearse it while walking or running on your own… Cry all you want…. many times even. Then, you are less likely to cry when you say it at your ceremony? My concern too. I cry at everyone’s wedding!

18.
tea says:

that is awesome. i didn’t get all the references but i couldn’t help but smile while i was reading. you should definitely read this yourself…just imagine how THAT would feel. great job miss lb!

19.
futuremrstaj says:

English major here - ADORED it! Perfect.

(I should mention that when I met Mr. Taj, he was hosting a poetry session for high schoolers and was holding a tome of Percy Shelley - ahhhh…)

20.
Yach says:

I think you should print it in your program. I got most of the puns and I think the poem is BRILLIANT and intelligent. But if I heard it instead of reading it, I would probably miss most of the puns. Now that would be a shame.

21.
nt says:

it’s brilliant, quirky, and sweet. he would love it. you should definitely read it to him because who is better to express your feeling and thoughts than yourself?

22.
Guilty Secret says:

I think you should read it yourself even if you will cry. It might sound weird coming from someone else.

23.
Weddingbee » Blog Archive » Watercooler says:

[...] My Card by Miss Kiwi, The Unitasker Registry by Miss Penguin, The Cake Artist by Miss Donut, Love In The Time of Coleridge by Miss Lovebug [...]

24.
jnicholea says:

I agree with everyone else, read it yourself!

25.
Bridal Bird says:

That is awesome!

I’m actually wanted to send you an email about something but I can’t find it anywhere on the site. Am I just a lunkhead and missing it?

Could you drop me a line with your email when you get a second? Thanks!

26.
Miss Lovebug says:

Bridal Bird - just emailed ya. =)

27.
The Blitzkrieg Blog » Weddingbee » The Wedding Blog says:

[...] the back, I had her print my wedding poem for Mr. Lovebug. The hubris, I know. But I just couldn’t see myself reading it, and this way, all [...]


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Mrs. Lovebug Mrs. Lovebug, Tucson Age and Occupation in 06: 31, Writer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Professional Game Show Contestant Engagement Date: February 18, 2007 Wedding Date: April 19, 2008 Venue: Historic Inn About Me: Likes: blogging, wikis, semi-colons, cuddling, fragrant flowers, syntax, and spooning. Dislikes: typos, dangling modifiers, flypaper, citronella candles, and run-ons. If I had my druthers, I'd exchange simple vows in a candlelit library. But I lost my druthers long ago...anyone seen them?