Poetry, the Music of the Soul

By Mary Chiappetta
For Proper Southern Weddings

What is a wedding, really? The idea of a wedding brings with it a variety of emotions and
ideas, visions of glistening splendor and excited anticipation. Your thoughts might jump
to the gown of the bride, or to the dumbfounded expression of the groom when he first
beholds his beloved on their wedding day. You might see the beaming pride of the mother
and father of the bride and groom, or the excitement of the celebration that follows the
ceremonial expression of vows. Or, you may see the wedding day as the key that opens
the door of the remainder of your life, as a defining moment in which the blissful
anticipation of many happy years together comes first to fruition. But among all of these
many ideas and aspects of the wedding ceremony, excitement, and meaning, what is a
wedding?
The answer to this question lies, I believe, in the deepest and most fundamental purpose
of the message that a wedding conveys. At its closest and most hidden core, the wedding
is an expression and a celebration of love. It is all about the love that forms between two
specific individuals, exclusively and permanently, and that they express in the vows and
festivities of their wedding day. It is no wonder that the wedding ceremony graces the
dreams and thoughts of women and even of men (though they may be loth to admit it),
and that even little children sometimes play marriage. The symbolism and meaning of the
wedding sets it apart as a unique event within the scope of life that gratifies the deepest
desire of the human heart: the desire to be loved, and to be loved deeply and permanently.
If you are soon to be married, the legacy that you will inherit on your wedding day is one
devoted to and centered on this idea of permanent and faithful love, and if you are soon to
be married you may very well be brimming over with excitement and affection for the
person to whom you will soon commit your life. Though impossible to entirely capture or
encapsulate, this excitement and affection might perhaps find some degree of expression
through the traditional language of love, poetic expression. Indeed, poetry can be a
beautiful and unique way by which to express the love that you feel for you soon to be
spouse, and for your soon to be spouse to reciprocate his/her affection for you. This
traditional love language might be incorporated into the ceremony in the vows itself, or if
circumstances will not allow it could be included in the festivities that follow the
ceremony of the wedding itself. Regardless of the place that you find to be most fitting
for the inclusion of this special expression of love, poetic language is certain to lend a
special, unique, and personalized tone to the overall expression of your affections that the
wedding itself symbolizes.
What is it about poetry that is so classically associated with love? The amorous reputation
of poetry owes, in part, to the world-famous sonnets of William Shakespeare. These
sonnets of Shakespeare are popular even to this day as expressions by which modern
couples express their affection for each other. However, the beauty of poetry lies likewise
in its lovely and lyrical tone, and the care with which poetic words must be chosen in the
crafting of original poetry lends this form of expression a singular ability to touch the
emotions in a way inaccessible to typical prose.

There is a reason, indeed, that many lovers choose the messages within the greeting,
anniversary, or other cards that they purchase for their beloveds with such extreme care.
There is something about poetry that we know, innately, to be effective in expressing the
ultimately inexpressible sentiment of love. And if even a pre-written card can so perfectly
capture the emotional soaring of the heart, how much more effective can personal poetry
be? As a gesture of affection a personal poem is a treasure like no other, but as an aspect
of your wedding its power is exponentially increased in the nature of public avowal that
the ceremony provides. The notion of engaging in the creative process of creative writing
might well be a daunting one, but with the proper understanding that it is, indeed, a
process, poetic expression of your love for your beloved is well within the reach of even
the least creatively inclined.
Prior to beginning a poem for inclusion within your wedding festivities, it is wise to first
consider your particular venue and the type of poem that you may wish to write. For
example, some religious ceremonies may not permit you to compose your own vows
(Catholic weddings, for instance, are particular about the specific words that are used and
do not allow for alterations). If, however, your wedding will take place in a venue that
does permit you to write your own vows, your next consideration pertains to the
formality of the event that you anticipate your wedding will possess. This will greatly
influence the type of poem that you write! For example, if your venue will be informal
and your relationship is known for its playful nature you might consider the delightfully
comical limerick style, but if your event will be more formal, or if you intend to express
your love in a more serious tone, the classic sonnet might be more suited to your tastes
and mission. The sestina, which consists of an unrhymed repetitious pattern in which the
same six words are echoed throughout the six stanzas, is among the more difficult poetic
structures to which to adhere. Some writers enjoy the structure of these more difficult
types, however, and they can lend an air of greater consideration to your poetic attempts
due to the amount of effort and patience required to create them. Or, you might prefer to
write in a free verse type style. This type of poetry is less difficult in terms of meter and
structure, but since there are no particular guidelines for this type it can also be quite
challenging to maintain the poetic feel. However, this type of poetry would suit a
wedding or venue of any formality, and it might well be among the most heartfelt styles.
You might certainly choose to read or recite the poetry of a favorite author, or even utilize
the lyrics of a favorite love song. However, a poem of your own creation would be sure to
delight your future spouse and guests, whether in the context of the vows or another type
of addition to your post-ceremonial festivities. In the interest of your original
composition you might consider exposing yourself to many poets. This will help you to
familiarize yourself with the types of poetry and poetic forms that you might pursue in
your own writing, and it will allow you to develop your aesthetic tastes. If there is a
particular environment that is most conducive to your ability to focus, seek it. Whether
you can concentrate best with a musical accompaniment, in silence, in a chaotic
environment, or all alone, dont be afraid to appeal to your own preferences in making
your poetic endeavors. Nature can be among the best inspirations for poetic composition.
Indeed, the romance period of poetry was inspired largely by the idea of poetry as a

spontaneous outpouring of powerful feeling. This ideal is an excellent model for the
composition of love poetry, in which your goal is to encapsulate the powerful feelings of
your heart for your beloved. As you begin to write, similarly, do not be afraid to revise
repeatedly, or to experiment with different types of rhyme, meter, and other poetic
devices. Finally, in revising and editing it is wise to read your poetry aloud. This will give
you a more complete sense of what works and what doesnt work, and it will encourage
you to continue to play with the words that form the foundational building blocks of your
poetic expression.
Although it might initially be a matter of unfamiliarity and intimidation, the act of
composing your own poem for recitation during your wedding ceremony will add a touch
of personalization and beauty to this most important day. Poetry, the language of love, is
a wonderful addition to the expression of your love on your wedding day, and a poem of
your own creation will lend a lovely air to a day dedicated solely and exclusively to the
celebration of your shared love and affection.