The Wedding of Flowers ("The Islander" Part 3)

Many moons have passed

And I have almost forgotten 

The storm that took

So many on the

Ship that took me from

My island and my family.

I still long for my family

I long to run with my

Brothers on the beach

Teasing them as I race past them.

I long to roam the meadows with

My sisters and pick

Fragrant flowers to braid 

Into our hair and 

Bring home to Mother.

How I miss my island’s roses

That smelled like fresh moss

And the lavender sprigs

That smelled so sweet,

Relaxing us with their smell.

I miss the vines of honeysuckle

That teased our faces as we

Tried to reach the best ones,

The ones that were full of

A rich honey flavor.

I long for the tulips that

Mother loved to put

In the crystal vase

At the center of the dining table.

I pine for the fire lilies that

Were like bursts of flames,

Often fooling those who 

Stood far away.

I yearn for the lilacs that 

Grew near our home,

And the violets that we 

Planted in our windowsill gardens.

I ache for the marigolds that

Were like little splashes of

Sunshine on a cloudy day.

I crave for the daisies that

We made into chains,

And hung around our necks,

Or placed on our heads,

Pretending to be royalty.

I long for the ivy

That we grew on the trellises,

And wove into rugs for

The younger girls so they 

Could play house.

I long for these things everyday,

But I am content with

My life on this island with the

Villagers that took me in,

And Kilo, who loves me

As much as I love him.

He asked me yesterday

To marry him and I

Told him I would.

He gave me a silver ring with

A flower engraving,

And it is beautiful,

With roses and ivy all 

The way around it.

I wear it everywhere

I go, never taking it

Off, even when I 

Go to sleep because

I do not want to lose 

It, because there is no

Other ring like it.

*******************************************************

We have the wedding set for 

April second because

That is the day I left

My island, the day

I fell in love with

Kilo, the day he

Fell in love with me,

The day we kissed 

Under the moon and stars.

We are planning to have it 

At night in the meadow

That we spend much of

Our days in, talking

About the future and

What it holds for us.

Everybody on the island will

Be there to celebrate

One of the most important

Days of our lives,

And we will be surrounded by 

The flowers we love:

Roses, daisies, and tulips,

Violets, sunflowers, and lilies,

Carnations, marigolds,

Lilacs, and lavender,

Honeysuckle and ivy.

But best of all, we will

Be surrounded by the 

People that we now call

Family, the people who 

Showed us love and gave 

Us comfort when we

Needed it the most.

I grow more excited everyday,

As the day grows closer,

So excited I begin to

Dream about walking

Towards Kilo,

Towards the one I will

Spend the rest of my

Life loving.

The days seem to fly by,

But as it draws near,

It seems as if it will

Never arrive.

Then, finally, finally

It is here, it is actually

Here, and I am on the

Verge of tears at the

Thought of what is to come.

They are happy tears,

Because I can’t wait

To spend my life

With the person I have 

Grown closer to

As the days pass by.

I spend the day getting

Ready for tonight.

I french-braid my hair, 

Tucking sweet-smelling 

Honeysuckle in here and there.

I slip on my dress,

A white dress with floral lace,

Trailing behind me,

Fluttering in the breeze like a sail.

The sleeves are lacy and hang loosely,

Flowing elegantly down 

The length of my arm.

I slip on my shoes,

Delicate white sandals

That Kilo made for me.

I put on a necklace,

Made out of pearls,

With a diamond pendant 

Shaped like a rose.

Finally, the sun goes down,

Leaving streaks of pale pinks

And soft yellows,

And the moon begins to rise,

The stars begin to shine.

It is time.

*************************************************

I walk down the path

That has been made from

All the times Kilo and I

Walked to the meadow.

The air is filled with sweet

Flower scents blending

Together.

Two little girls from

Who attached themselves to

Me the day after I came

Are holding my train,

Carefully keeping it off the ground.

Another little girl walks ahead

Of me, strewing

White rose petals on the path.

Her brother walks with her,

Carrying the rings,

That Kilo and I will slip

Onto each others

Fingers later tonight.

I look at the end of the

Path where Kilo stands,

Waiting for me.

He is looking at me, waiting,

Probably counting down the 

Seconds until I reach him.

My heart is racing, beating

So loudly I am sure that

Everyone can hear it.

I look at the villagers, 

Who look at me with

Shining eyes and smiles,

Nodding their heads when

They see me looking.

I reach the arch of ivy

And white roses that 

Some of the villagers made

For us to stand under.

Kilo is smiling, tears in

His eyes as I come to 

Stand face-to-face with him.

The minister clears his 

Throat after a minute of

Letting us gaze into 

Each other’s eyes.

He begins the ceremony,

And Kilo and I smile

With happy tears in our 

Eyes during the whole ceremony.

We get to the vows,

And we say them with 

Strong, clear voices.

I have never been more 

Sure of anything in

My entire life.

“I do.” I say, my voice

Pure and gentle.

“I do.” he says, his

Voice strong and sure.

We slip the rings on 

Each other’s fingers,

And I gasp at the beauty

Of mine. 

It is just a diamond on a

Gold band, but the 

Simplicity is beautiful.

“I now pronounce you 

Husband and wife.”

The minister says, 

And Kilo leans toward me,

Smiling, and under the stars 

Once again… 

We kiss.