READINGS
ON YOUR WEDDING DAY
Anonymous
Today is a day you will always remember
The greatest in anyone’s life
You’ll start off the day just two people in love
And end it as Husband and Wife
It’s a brand new beginning, the start of a journey
With moments to cherish and treasure
And although there’ll be times when you
Both disagree
These will surely be outweighed by pleasure
You’ll have heard many words of advice in the past
When the secrets of marriage were spoken
But you know that the answers lie hidden inside
Where the bond of true love lives unbroken
So live happy forever as lovers and friends
It’s the dawn of a new life for you
As you stand there together with love in your eyes
From the moment you whisper ‘I Do’
And with luck all your hopes and your dreams can be real
May success find its way to your hearts
Tomorrow can bring you the greatest of joys
But today is the day it all starts.
WEDDINGS
TODAY
Anonymous
Today…I look into your eyes
The one with whom I can share anything
My deepest hopes and heart-filled dreams
Inner fears and sheltered insecurities
My most warming joys and overwhelming triumphs
All future journeys that I have left to encounter
This and more I know I can share with you.
Today… I take pride in you
With admiration I look upon you and smile
For all that you are and all that you do that makes me so proud
Every part of you that I have come to adore
And for all those parts I have not yet learned.
Today … I share my soul with you
My lost prized possession which no other has been given
I share it with great confidence and trust
Because with you I am at peace and I know with you it is safe
You give me warmth that I keep with me always
And what else can I give to someone who has given me so much
For you have opened my eyes to see a love
Which before you I was blind to.
Today … I am marrying you.
THE PROMISE
by Eileen Rafter
The sun danced on the snow with a sparkling smile,
as two lovers sat quietly, alone for a while.
Then he turned and said, with a casual air
(Though he blushed from his chin to the tips of his hair),
“I think I might like to get married to you”
“Well then,” she said, “Well there’s a thought,
but what if we can’t promise to be all that we ought.
If I’m late yet again, when we plan to go out.
For I know I can’t promise I’ll learn to ignore
dirty socks and damp towels strewn all over the floor.
So if we can’t vow to be all that we should I’m not sure what to do,
though the idea’s quite good”.
But he gently smiled and tilted his head
till his lips met her ear and softly he said
“I promise, to weave my dreams into your own,
that wherever you breathe will be my hearts’ home.
I promise, that whether with rags or with gold I am blessed
Your smile is the jewel I will treasure the best.
Do you think then, my love, we should marry - do you?”
“Yes” she said smiling “I do”.
BORN YESTERDAY
by Phillip Larkin
Tightly-folded bud,
I have wished you something
None of the others would:
Not the usual stuff
About being beautiful,
Or running off a spring
Of innocence and love –
They will all wish you that,
And should it prove possible
Well, you’re a lucky girl.
But if it shouldn’t then
May you be ordinary;
Have like other women,
And average of talents:
Not ugly, not good looking,
Nothing uncustomary
To pull you off your balance,
That, unworkable itself,
Stops all the rest from working.
In fact, may you be dull –
If that is what a skilled,
Vigilant, flexible,
Unemphasised, enthralled
Catching of happiness is called.
NAMINGS
THROUGH BABY'S EYES
Anonymous
I didn’t expect a brass band,
With welcome mat unfurled,
To be on hand when I arrived,
In this confusing world.
Nor did I expect a doctor,
To hold be by the feet,
Then quickly turn me upside down,
And spank me on the seat.
At first I wasn’t quite prepared,
For this enormous place,
Nor for the funny characters,
That I would have to face.
But I soon learned to get my way,
By looking sweet and shy,
And when I wanted to be held,
To make a fuss and cry.
I’ve found it really doesn’t take,
Much difficulty of guile,
To wrap them round my finger,
All I need to do is smile.
A CHILD'S THOUGHT
by Robert Louis Stephenson
At seven, when I go to bed,
I find such pictures in my head:
Castles with dragons prowling round,
Gardens where magic fruits are found;
Fair ladies imprisoned in a tower,
All lost in an enchanted bower;
While gallant horsemen ride by streams
The border all this land of dreams
I find, so clearly in my head
At seven, when I go to bed.
At seven, when I wake again,
The magic land I seek in vain;
The chair stands where the castle frowned,
The carpet hides the garden ground
No fairies trip across the floor
Boots, and no horsemen, flank the door,
And where the blue streams rippling ran
Is now the bath and water-can;
I seek the magic land in vain
At seven, when I wake again
TIME OF LIFE
by Peter Tobit
Life’s day has gone well past twilight
and now fast approaching the quiet
of the falling darkness of night.
There are far more memories to recall
than those that are yet to make.
​
Memories that invoke a multitude of emotions
Happy, sad, thoughtful…there are a lot to reflect upon
The opportunity to make some more are greatly reducing
But, I will endeavour to create happy ones,
Whilst the opportunity still exists to do so.
​
So, before the clocks strikes 12, bringing my day to a close
I will ensure that loved ones get the best of me
No need to set an alarm for the following day
And can finally close my eyes,
Safe in the knowledge that I have left my mark
On this world that I was allowed to enjoy.
FUNERALS
IF YOU SEE TOMORROW
by Peter Tobit
If you see tomorrow
Let it know that I might be late
I'm hoping that my past catches up
Erasing the last few horrendous years
The few years that I'd like to forget
But can't.......
If you see tomorrow
Let it know that I might not make it
Tell it, I am trying…..but feel so unsure
Putting one foot in front of the other
I am trying to slowly move forward
But can't........
If you see tomorrow
Please pass on my wishes & gratitude
I am thankful for the decades of life
For the ups, downs and sideways
I would have liked to tell it personally
But can't........
YOU'RE STILL THERE
by Peter Tobit
To feel you cup my tear soaked face
To have you stroke my hair
To feel the reassurances
That you will always be there.
To feel the sun, the snow, the wind
Yes, even to feel the rain,
The walk I take through lonely woods
Just to hear the birds sing once again.
To know you're at peace at last
From all the suffering and pain
This is all that I truly hope for
Again and again and again.
These are my longings and my hope,
My yearnings and my prayer
But now and then please let me know...
Let me know that you're still there.
PERFECT
by Ed Sheeran
I found a love, for me
Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead
Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet
Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me
'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
Not knowing what it was
I will not give you up this time
But darling, just kiss me slow
Your heart is all I own
And in your eyes, you're holding mine
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark
With you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass
Listening to our favourite song
When you said you looked a mess
I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it
Darling, you look perfect tonight
SOMEONE LIKE YOU
by Van Morrison
I've been searchin' a long time
For someone exactly like you
I've been travelin' all around the world
Waitin' for you to come through
Someone like you
Make it all worth while
Someone like you
Keep me satisfied
Someone exactly like you
I've been travelin' a hard road
Baby, lookin' for someone exactly like you
I've been carryin' my heavy load
Waitin' for the light to come shinin' through
Someone like you
Make it all worth while
Someone like you
Make me satisfied
Someone exactly like you
MY WAY
by Frank Sinatra
And now the end is here
And so I face that final curtain
My friend I'll make it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more
I did it, I did it my way
​
Regrets, I've had a few
But then again too few to mention
I did what I had to do
I saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much, much more
I did it, I did it my way