.

To Melody, on Her Wedding Day

And now the hour has come for you to fly,
To leave your early nest and take the air
For vistas yet unseen (though God knows where
He’ll take you, as He knew in days gone by).

For since the moment that you left the womb,
He’s carried you by air and sea and land
To distant worlds, while staying close at hand
To guard you and to give you growing room.

We can’t deny this moment brings a tug
Of sadness to our hearts to see you go;
It calls forth tears from eyes that watched you grow,
And from the arms that cradled you, a hug.

But we believe the One who brought you forth
Into this world, entrusting to our care
You precious life, through changes will be there,
To guide your flight and help you find true north.

His star will guide you, and within your ears
His Word will sound; receive it in your heart!
Hold fast to Him, and you will not depart
From His great love, which saves from sudden fears.

Fly boldly forth, then, soaring with your mate
To worlds unknown, while heeding the Lord’s voice,
And you’ll be safe!   Your twin hearts will rejoice
To do His will and worship as you wait.

Yes, wait for Him—just as we plan to wait
For you to come like two birds on the wing.
Your future visits to our hearts will bring
Great joy each time we greet you at the gate.

.

.

Fall Flourish

Young lovers green as spring walk hand in hand,
Their fingers like fresh tendrils fast entwined,
Beneath the arching trees that lordly stand
Along the leaf strewn pathway where they wind.

Lost in a lover’s haze, they slowly stroll
As autumn leaves rain down from overhead
Which, tossed by gentle breezes, skip and roll
Across their path, paved orange, gold and red.

Throughout the spring and summer, in their prime,
These leaves retained their verdure, as they drew
From sunlight all they needed, for a time,
To keep their trees well nourished, fresh and new.

But now, as autumn days grow cool and short,
And trees receive less sunlight day by day,
The leaves with mist and rain and shades consort,
And their resplendent verdure fades away.

But when it seems the leaves have run their course
And have no further life force to expend,
They bring forth overnight from some deep source
Rare beauty to adorn their final end.

As to the way of dying things they yield,
They undergo a most amazing change,
Displaying colors hitherto concealed—
A transformation wonderful and strange!

They fill the forest with their vibrant hues,
A symphony of colors to the eye,
And bless all with their beauty ere they choose
To quit their natal branches as they die.

Thus, human souls well rooted in God’s truth,
Well nourished by the words that grace each page
Of His inspired book, though green in youth,
Experience a dazzling change with age.

As they draw near to that awaited hour
To meet with God and see Him face to face,
They glow with vibrant colors as they flower,
Made rich with every warm autumnal grace.

There comes a time when every blessed soul
Who’s walked with God throughout life’s little day,
Made golden with the years, mature and whole,
Must cut his earthly ties and fly away.

Untethered from the tree that holds him fast,
And loosed like all bright leaves that went before
He must surrender that which cannot last,
To seize the good which lasts forevermore.

So let us leave the branch to which we cling!
Set free from earth and songful like a swallow,
God’s wind will sweep us skyward as we sing,
And point the way for souls yet green to follow.

.

.

Martin Rizley grew up in Oklahoma and in Texas, and has served in pastoral ministry both in the United States and in Europe. He is currently serving as the pastor of a small evangelical church in the city of Málaga on the southern coast of Spain, where he lives with his wife and daughter. 

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16 Responses

  1. Roy Eugene Peterson

    These are two marvelous precious poems that tug at the heart strings. The wedding poem is filled with warmth and sincerity with a wonderful blessing for the new life that is to begin away from the home “nest,” yet with a grateful welcoming at each return. “Fall Flourish” is one of those autumn poems with sensory sights that fills the heart and concludes with the comparison of the season to that of a human life. Both are beautifully written.

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Thank you, Roy, for your appreciative remarks. It is true that both of these poems deal with themes very close to my heart, so I am pleased that you found them to “tug at the heart strings.”

      Reply
      • Julian D. Woodruff

        These are both very fine, and “Untethered … forevermore” is a quatrain that ought to be the envy of us all. Thank you, Martin.
        (You could switch to we-us at this point, rather than waiting till the final quatrain, but I guess from a rhetorical standpoint your choice is sounder.)

  2. Joseph S. Salemi

    The first poem is a beautiful farewell tribute from parents to a daughter who has just been married. Such an occasion is certainly one of mingled joy and sadness, for many obvious reasons. One striking element in the poem is its focus on “vistas yet unseen,” and “distant worlds,” and “worlds unknown,” and “air and sea and land,” and several other phrases that indicate far travel. It suggests that the daughter is an experienced traveler (perhaps her work?), and that this movement will continue even after her wedding.

    The second poem is more conventional, in the vein of visual autumnal changes and imagery as precursors of death. But both poems show an incredible richness of language that matches the deeply felt emotions of the speakers.

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Thank you, Dr. Salemi, for your feedback. Our daughter has, in fact, travelled a lot in her twenty-three years, having lived on two continents and having travelled to various countries in Europe- with us, with her classmates, and on one or two occasions, by herself (picked up at the airport by acquaintances, of course). We are pleased to know, however, that she and her husband are not planning to move far away, but to live within a fairly short driving distance from us.

      Reply
  3. Yael

    Both poems are beautiful and edifying in their own way and I enjoyed reading them very much, thank you. I can’t figure out why, but the second poem reminds me of the classical hymn Balm In Gilead.

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Yael, I appreciate your comments very much. Perhaps the autumnal imagery and message of the poem transmit a certain peacefulness, which is what reminds you of the hymn you mention, since it speaks of a balm that “makes the wounded whole,” “revives,” and “heals the sin-sick soul.”

      Reply
  4. Dan Pugh

    Fall Flourish is a masterpiece. Wallace Stevens wrote, “The poem refreshes life,” and this one certainly does. Having read it, I know more deeply than I did before that I am blessed. It is good to be happy, but it is better to be blessed.

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Dan, Am I so happy to know that you find my poem “refreshing.” That is a huge encouragement to me. Thank you for your kind words.

      Reply
  5. Margaret Coats

    Martin, congratulations to you and your wife on giving away your daughter to the One who loves her most. I recall you told us of this poem some time ago, and it is a true blessing to read it now. It takes three to get married. Your expression of what that means, in closed quatrains indicating solemn finality of the act, delineates a graciously flowing explication of entering into holy matrimony. I especially appreciate the “tug of sadness” rhymed with the “hug” that represents progress in joy rather than a final farewell. Felicitations to your daughter and new son-in-law!

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Thank your, Margaret, for your words of felicitation. We are indeed very happy, for our daughter, her husband, and ourselves! The wedding ceremony itself was truly beautiful and underscored the holiness of the institution of marriage, which picture so beautifully the sacred relationship of Christ and His church..

      Reply
  6. Shamik Banerjee

    Mr. Rizley, I was reading these beautiful poems during my lunch time today, and honestly speaking, they helped to allay the discordant bustle of work. Your first piece is not only lovely but every father’s emotions when he promises his daughter’s hand to another. You have beautifully expressed the mutually coexisting feelings of joy and sadness during this blessed occasion. Fall Flourish is infused with peaceful images, sound, and indeed, the inexplicable feeling of uniting with our Maker. Truly remarkable. Thanks for these!

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Shamik,
      What could be more encouraging for any writer than to hear that his words have helped someone get through a difficult day? I´m so glad these poems resonated with you and “helped to allay the discordant battle of work.” Your most recent poem (“Odd One Out”) gives me some idea of the sort of the battles you face daily in your work environment. Look forward to reading more of your poems in the future.

      Reply
  7. Gigi Ryan

    Dear Martin,

    Both of these poems express an underlying faith in God and His Providence over the inevitable changes that happen in life. The first shows wise and loving parents who were able to understand the balance of loving a daughter and letting her go – entrusting her ultimately to God. The second shows the the course of life and the beauty that happens through the changes.
    I very much enjoyed the loveliness of the flow and story in each – thank you very much.
    Gigi

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Thank you for your encouraging critique of the poems, Gigi. I really enjoyed writing them, and I am so glad you derived pleasure from reading them! Blessings to you.

      Reply
  8. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Martin, these two poems are heartwarmingly beautiful and simply brimming with the miracle of love’s splendor from the earthly and the heavenly realm. The closing couplet of the first brought a joyful tear to my eye.

    I am particularly taken with the wonder of nature woven throughout “Fall Flourish” to describe our brief time on God’s green earth. I take great comfort from the song of this remarkable planet, and you have captured just the right tones. Thank you! I wish Melody well on her new and exciting venture in life. She is lucky to have a father to document the most significant events in fine poetry.

    Reply

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