Reginald Gibbons
The Marriages of People
I
The marriages of people
are mysterious affairs.
Toad squats in his mud
hole blinking; he refuses to say.
Giant moths arrive late
awkwardly flutter in
and fasten themselves to a wall
watching from above.
Great mice peer through
the stained glass
while down the centre aisle
the snails make the floor shine.
II
It is inside a tree,
or at the bottom of a tiny pond
that the meeting takes place,
a match is arranged.
What animal considerations
are applied to the problem!
Everyone thinks silently,
antennae & whiskers twitching in the dark.
The little eyes, the blind noses
bumping there — inaudible
high pitched grunts & exclamations
accompany the decision.
The sub-committee proposes,
and selects two arbitrary names;
the ceremony is scheduled.
We go and cheer and are puzzled.
Page(s) 19-20
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