Chasing Paradise

viii. white dress

You walk over
To the mirror
To help the girl,
In a billowy white dress,
Adjust her veil.

Sweat runs down her face,
Smearing the makeup a little.
Cheeks flushed and eyebrows creased,
She wears the widest smile you've ever seen.

The song starts, her cue.
You take her hand, and walk out
Head held high and heels clicking.

Guests stand and witness
The most beautiful bride they've ever seen.
But her eyes, her eyes
Are stuck to the man at the front.

Your wry smile smile goes unnoticed,
As nostalgia sweeps you over
With your day at the altar
And to the man, who then vowed to stay,
Is now drunk at a bar
With some slut in his arms,
His arms, where his daughter should now be.

You squeeze her hand, to let her know,
That you would always be here,
She meets your eyes
With the same promise.
Forever, you both say
Not through spoken words,
Which are the bane of our existence,
But through the language of love,
Whose pure intentions have always found a place in our hearts.

The vows are said,
(Spoken words, a curse.)
With a kiss it is sealed,
(Language of love, a blessing.)

You look at them,
Your chest filled with pride,
Because who was to say,
You couldn't be a father too?