For Rebekah and Brad
We walk through the forest.
The sun shines down through the pines,
painting the mountain's eyelashes gold.
We come upon a waterfall,
a stream surrendering itself to a chasm below.
Flying bats usher us into a cave.
Deep within the darkness glows a flame.
We follow, there is magic here.
There is love here, within this dense, cool earth.
Shakti is marrying her consort.
Orange lilies line the torch-lit walls.
She stands before us, radiant,
the bride of fire,
the scarlet hummingbird, ready and firm,
stepping lightly through cool water to meet her groom.
He is there, quietly glowing, noble and true,
awaiting her upon the lotus.
They embrace.
The sun beckons us outside with a goodnight kiss,
and night pulls us into her star-dusted cloak.
She brings the crescent moon and our evening queen Venus,
following our sweethearts down the mountain.
Have they always walked hand in hand?
Have they known each other from the beginning?
They consecrate with jasmine,
dive into the river like dolphins finding a new home.
Their laughter floats by on dragonfly wings.
They emerge and return to us,
trailing the ribbons of dream-time.
The gods do grace us,
and we smile, drink our wine, fall in love.
This is how it has always been.
We love them, these shining beauties,
these beings of grace upholding the temple of creation.
And here, the angels give their gentle blessings,
the butterflies and moths dance all night.
And we come together and form the arc of love.
