Start with a pretty girl and add a ducktail
stir love and passion into the cocktail
traditional dramas of parental blessing
the little matter of a baby, pressing!
then comes the planning and panic
what size the cake and invite tactic
venues and timing the plight
best men and the bachelors last right
priests flower-girls and frocks
witnesses to the church in flocks
sermons hymns and symbolic rings
the union consummated by these things
throw in a honeymoon not so plain
how long that journey in the rain
at his side a prize not to hide
to his family presented the bride
hard working and career change needed
and Dad’s good advice well heeded
off the tools and out of railing
into an office then plan sailing
independence through employ procured
together the unions adventure secured
in buying and setting up home
ten by four and never alone
from sub-tropic to high veld
the cape and the low veld
through provinces east and west
their union put to the test
through trials and pains
mole hills for mountains
and mountains for molehills
their union did provided the pills
when health robbed childbearing
with religion misled interfering
emotional stresses and strain
this bond further did ingrain
and through the years did they provide
their children’s light and easy ride
with space to learn and grow
within this unions glow
to role models they’d cast a glance
in pursuit of life’s perfect stance
oft good advice heeding
not always agreeing
thus the union remains
all be it with stains
well how could forty years
pass by without tears
a union of four by ten
a grand milestone then
and many the original witness flock
today of this achievement do take stock
as this union set store by their elders
a responsibility now to their shoulders
to light the way for those that follow
to progress hope when vows seem hollow
so while it seems you’ve paid your due
we all for a time still will look to you
acknowledge then today our admirations
HEAR! HEAR! CONGRATULATIONS!
stir love and passion into the cocktail
traditional dramas of parental blessing
the little matter of a baby, pressing!
then comes the planning and panic
what size the cake and invite tactic
venues and timing the plight
best men and the bachelors last right
priests flower-girls and frocks
witnesses to the church in flocks
sermons hymns and symbolic rings
the union consummated by these things
throw in a honeymoon not so plain
how long that journey in the rain
at his side a prize not to hide
to his family presented the bride
hard working and career change needed
and Dad’s good advice well heeded
off the tools and out of railing
into an office then plan sailing
independence through employ procured
together the unions adventure secured
in buying and setting up home
ten by four and never alone
from sub-tropic to high veld
the cape and the low veld
through provinces east and west
their union put to the test
through trials and pains
mole hills for mountains
and mountains for molehills
their union did provided the pills
when health robbed childbearing
with religion misled interfering
emotional stresses and strain
this bond further did ingrain
and through the years did they provide
their children’s light and easy ride
with space to learn and grow
within this unions glow
to role models they’d cast a glance
in pursuit of life’s perfect stance
oft good advice heeding
not always agreeing
thus the union remains
all be it with stains
well how could forty years
pass by without tears
a union of four by ten
a grand milestone then
and many the original witness flock
today of this achievement do take stock
as this union set store by their elders
a responsibility now to their shoulders
to light the way for those that follow
to progress hope when vows seem hollow
so while it seems you’ve paid your due
we all for a time still will look to you
acknowledge then today our admirations
HEAR! HEAR! CONGRATULATIONS!