Author: Bethany Benedict

 April 2001

Background: The birth of this poem was one of the most exciting and fruitful of my writing life. The moment the request left my uncle's mouth I had a vision of Adam and Eve in the garden. I was confused by this and did not see how it would fit the theme so I tried something else. I  started to use 2 Corinthians 13:4-7 in essence it says, love is patient love is kind, love does not envy does not boast etc, etc I tried using this scripture to write but I hated it! I couldn't come up with one word. When I started again to look at Adam and Eve, I realized they were married. After this it flowed like water and felt like silk.

History: I started writing at a around 9 years old but did not know my mother was saving what I wrote and that it meant I was a poet. I wrote Two Weddings when I was 14. This poem was my first commission. While my uncle Kris was at my house planning his wedding, he asked me to write a poem about my view of him and Khrista, his wife.

Future Goals:  I love poetry, but I know I would starve if I depended on free writing as my career. Even the best and frequently published poets have to do other jobs to pay bills. So I am studying to be a journalist. I have started a new poetry project which I could possibly be working on until I die. I plan to write a poem for every book in the Bible.

I must thank my uncle for trusting me with such a task. It helps when you have someone to believe in you.

I was greatly surprised by the reaction I received from the Inkwell group. I did not expect such a compliment.

 Two Weddings

His work of creation nearly done

God sat on His heavenly throne

Looking down He could see

All of earth and sky and sea

He saw Adam under a tree

And heard him say,

"There is only one of me"

God said "Man should not be alone"

"So from his very flesh and bone I will create

The perfect helper and soul mate."

So from a bone in Adams' side

God brought forth the worlds' first bride

And led her quickly to the glade

Where the worlds' first groom in slumber laid

When Adam woke and finally spoke he said

"You are flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone

Though we are two, we are truly one

Your name shall be woman,

For from me you came

Though we are different, we are one and the same"

The Lord looked down from Heaven high

He blessed His work saying:

Be fruitful! Multiply!

Care for the earth, the sea, and the sky!

Much has changed since the first wedding that certainly is true

There is so much more that we must do

So much preparation!

And oh! The celebration!

How different from the wedding soon after creation

The first bride and groom had no crowds to invite

Their only guests were beast on land and birds in flight

They did not wear clothes of fabric fine

For they had been crafted by a Sculptor Divine

There was no church

And no need of one

For no one could match the job God had done

No music was played

Yet still it was heard

For it was provided by a choir of birds

No minister was present

But nobody cared

For the Creator was with them

What can compare?

No one spoke

No sermon was said

There was a blessing from the Father instead

And yet for all the differences between the first and today

These weddings are alike in one important way

For just as the first woman and man

Were declared to be one in God's sight

So it is true with this couple too

May their future be happy and bright!

Bethany Benedict