Sable Invitation

My niece marries tomorrow
In Memphis
Yes
At Graceland
And
Yes
It’s Hallowe’en
Not only by occasion
But by theme

Her dress
Is black
And might be fitting
For a movie from the forties
That has a
Draping scene
With Barbara Stanwick
Or
Bacall

Or even earlier
With
Garbo

All of which to say
The dress is dark
Elegance

A masque after
For a reception
And there
Should
Be
Costumes

Watch out
Anna
That there are not
Seven chambers
The last room
Red

Really
Though I should be wishing
And I do
Wish
Happy wedding
And happier days of
Marriage

From your uncle
Too sick to move these days
From near
To far
Except 
Like Thoreau
Perhaps
To wander in the mind
Farther than
Concord

Though more important

I do
Wish
Happy wedding
Happier days
Of
Marriage

C L Couch


Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash 
(apologies to dogs—though my niece has a little dog, smaller than Toto, who’s named Éponine for the character in Les Misérables)