The weight grew heavy on the fingers.
The ghost of love, once new, still lingers.
Once they were bright, shiny, and new.
Made by jewelers in sets of two.
To first be blessed when hearts were united.
Drawn together by the vows they recited.
Near to their mates throughout the day,
Feeling the love their bearers convey.
A new world opens to show its wide view,
And young love sees there is more than just two.
Life’s challenges they meet as they go through the day.
Some so strong in their fight they won’t go away.
Still struggle they must, for under their care,
Is joy which to lose they never could bear.
For the sake of the home they greet each dawn,
Until at last their grown children are gone.
Slowly turning large and cold,
The glow grew as they grew old.
Removed from view now, where none can see,
Each symbol of love wrapped separately.

Poet’s note: Treasured wedding rings, once sold in a set, lay side-by-side with two souls which met. The poem is in thoughts of Amos Newton and Inez Zilla (Pettibone) Garrett, my parents. They are buried in the city cemetery overlooking Benicia.

James M. Garrett has lived in Benicia his entire life. He retired after a 27 year-career of teaching at Benicia High School. He is the author of “One Great Season 9-0!”, “Benicia and Letters of Love,” “The Mansion Stories,” and the compiler of “The Golden Era,” a history of Benicia High School football from the 1948 through 1960 seasons. Contact him at Jgstoriesnpoetry@aol.com.

Do you have insightful, topical or just all around creative poetry that you’d like to share with the Benicia community? Submit your poems to beniciaherald@gmail.com and they may be published in Friday’s Poetry Corner. and possibly online at BeniciaHeraldOnline.com. All ages are welcome to contribute, but the content must be appropriate. You do not need to be a resident of Benicia to submit your poem.

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