Wedding Toast Poem by Richard Wilbur

Wedding Toast

Rating: 3.7


St. John tells how, at Cana's wedding feast,
The water-pots poured wine in such amount
That by his sober count
There were a hundred gallons at the least.

It made no earthly sense, unless to show
How whatsoever love elects to bless
Brims to a sweet excess
That can without depletion overflow.

Which is to say that what love sees is true;
That this world's fullness is not made but found.
Life hungers to abound
And pour its plenty out for such as you.

Now, if your loves will lend an ear to mine,
I toast you both, good son and dear new daughter.
May you not lack for water,
And may that water smack of Cana's wine.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Sylvaonyema Uba 19 April 2018

May you not lack for water And may that awater smack of Cana's wine. SYLVA-ONYEMA UBA

1 0 Reply
Susan Williams 01 January 2016

I love those final lines- may young love always be blessed in excess

23 0 Reply
Robert Howard 24 December 2006

Elegant benevolence beautifully constructed.

4 2 Reply
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