Living close to a community park in San Francisco gives me the opportunity to enjoy frequent surprises. There were no signs for this wedding, it was just happening. Baby showers occur unexpectedly here and birthday parties. When I see parents stringing up pinatas in tree branches, or people hiding Easter eggs even before any children arrive I get the hint and can happily anticipate. Weddings are rare here and all the more precious. Life goes on.
Photo by Olek Buzunov on Unsplash
A Ukrainian-American Wedding
Outside My Window
All I can see at first
is the bride’s long brown hair
glowing red-amber, back-lit
by low afternoon sun.
On her head, a crimson crown
with flowing satin ribbons.
A cluster of seven adults
chose the park’s small grassy circle
amid Monterey pines for their church.
All have items in their hands –
cameras, speaking notes,
flower bouquets and bells.
Bells, sounding like those on sleighs,
constantly jingle in the hands of friends,
warding against evil.
It is December 28th in San Francisco
and a rare break between
rainy days when the grass is emerald lush.
The celebrants smile and clap, pose for photos
with every configuration of people.
From my window, all I can do
or want to do, is watch them –
savor the sunlight, ribbons, and hugs
among the witnessing trees.
Heather Saunders Estes 