We began dating on February 3, 2001. Although we both had imagined a spouse quite different than the other, we fell in love quickly and completely. During our courtship, we read Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnets from the Portuguese together. Sonnet XXVI became "our" poem; a handwritten copy sits in a frame on our bedside table.
I lived with visions for my company,
Instead of men and women, years ago,
And found them gentle mates, nor thought to know
A sweeter music than they played to me.
But soon their trailing purple was not free
Of this world's dust, -- their lutes did silent grow,
And I myself grew faint and blind below
Their vanishing eyes. Then THOU didst come...to be,
Beloved, what they seemed. Their shining fronts,
Their songs, their splendours, (better, yet the same,
As river-water hallowed into fonts)
Met in thee, and from out thee overcame
My soul with satisfaction of all wants --
Because God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame.
This week, I want to revel in God's best earthly gift to me - my beloved husband and a marriage that surpasses any youthful daydream.
4 comments:
How beautiful! Happy Anniversary! I vividly remember your wedding and eagerly looking forward to our own in the near future. And indeed, our husbands are amazing gifts beyond compare! By the way, thank you for the recipe tips - I am making the roasted vegetable soup today.
Happy Anniversary=)
"Met in thee, and from out thee overcame
My soul with satisfaction of all wants --
Because God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame." Beautiful!
I'm also intrigued by your statement, "Although we both had imagined a spouse quite different than the other, we fell in love quickly and completely." Perhaps a future he said/she said NaBloPoMo/anniversary post could explain this further?
Honestly, he has so completely captured my heart that I have a hard time remembering what we expected in a spouse before we met each other. I think some of it was pretty superficial (looks, style, etc.), but my memory is pretty vague now! I just remember that we both shared that sentiment and were sort of surprised by how well we fit together. I don't think I'd really have enough material there for a post, but maybe I can ask Aaron if he remembers more.
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