My brother Rob sent me this picture taken we-won't-mention how long ago. It was an odd feeling looking into the eyes of that young woman, barely married herself at the time. So I wrote this poem to her. It's called "To a Girl at Her Brother's Wedding" and I used "girl" with malice aforethought. I've posted an excerpt here, and the rest will be going up at Tupelo later today. 

From this end of time, I can tell you that you’re prettier

than you know in your flowered dress, and that probably

everyone sees how hard you’re trying. The careful

smile is giving you away. You can’t know

that the couple at your table will divorce, or that you never will.

I decided to write a modern Shakespearean sonnet, first, because one of the fine writers in my 30/30 cohort—Catherine Abbey Hodges—wrote one right at the beginning, and it blew my socks off. And then, this is kind of a love poem and what could be more appropriate, right? But mostly, I just liked the idea of the longer lines, the three stanzas going in one direction and then the turn just there at the end for the last two lines. That felt right for the long look back and then the wish for one more glimpse. 

The days are dwindling, I hope the poems aren't going to. If you've always wanted a poem of your very own…. Or if you've always just wanted to give me an order, here's your chance.