A post at Oh, The Joys today got me to thinking about my wedding. Mr. Plain and I were pretty pulled-together during the ceremony except for one moment. My Dad read the below poem that we had picked out, and we both got teary-eyed.
I Could Give All to Time
To Time it never seems that he is brave
To set himself against the peaks of snow
To lay them level with the running wave,
Nor is he overjoyed when they lie low,
But only grave, contemplative and grave.
What now is inland shall be ocean isle,
Then eddies playing round a sunken reef
Like the curl at the corner of a smile;
And I could share Time’s lack of joy or grief
At such a planetary change of style.
I could give all to Time except – except
What I myself have held. But why declare
The things forbidden that while the Customs slept
I have crossed to Safety with? For I am There,
And what I would not part with I have kept.
- Robert Frost
The last line is what got us both. It was a moment I’ll always remember. That was the part of our wedding day that was just for he and I alone. What a wonderful memory!
We found this poem because the last part is the first thing you read in Wallace Stegner’s “Crossing to Safety.” This amazing book is one of my all-time favorites and I read it again every year or so. Are you looking for something great to read? Check it out.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Crossing to Safety is a great book – and that is a great photo!!
(and thanks for the linky love!)
What a wonderful memory. What an amazing poem.
Last line of first stanza:
But only grave, contemplative and grave.
absolutely tingly and chilling.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi, you don’t know me (sorry) but I came across your blog b/c I was looking for this poem to frame and hang on my wall. “Crossing to Safety” is my favorite book of all time, and I read it every year, too. This poem captures the nostalgic feel of the entire story, don’t you think. I’m a huge Stegner fan. Many people I’ve recommended this book to don’t get it. (They say, “What’s it about?” Duh–only everything.) So I’m always thrilled to find a fellow loyalist. What a perfect idea to read this at your wedding–that must have been beautiful. I’m going to hang the quote in a frame among all my family pictures. It will probably make me cry every time I walk by, but oh well. Thanks for posting this!
What a great idea to frame it :)
And this post is so old that I had completely forgotten writing it – thanks for reminding me!