Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Wedding

  1. The bride was beautiful.
  1. The bride was beautiful
    in the way brides are—
    intricate updo, professional face.
  1. The first thing my brother,
    the groom, said to me was
    that’s an interesting hairdo.
  1. It was his second wedding
    in the same church.
  1. Bourke Floyd once fingered me
    under the magnolia tree
    during a lock in.
  1. The minister’s son and I
    planned our Rock N Roll future
    on the Sunday school steps.
  1. Rock n roll dies
    naked and alone on Christmas.
    The organist reminded me of
    our handprints on the wall.
  1. You were my only ally
    I shouted at my dad
    during the reception
    and then I danced.
  1. I had sweet tea and whiskey
    for lunch, thanks to the
    bride’s bad sister.
  1. I didn’t make out with
    the bride’s bad sister.
    I didn’t even try.
  1. Your mom isn’t talking to me
    my dad said. I said me neither
  1. I ripped down posters
    for the camp where I was a molested.
    I once got in trouble for drawing smiles
    on the goldfish crackers.
  1. Everyone at that church is older
    than they used to be
    except for the minister’s son.