Honeymoon in Israel

Olive Branch, Cana in Galilee

CANA IN GALILEE

Israel Pilgrimage—2006

I step carefully

onto the muddy path

in this little grove

of olive trees

Twisted trunks

like sinewy flexed biceps

are hardy with endurance

Grey-green fingery leaves

flutter gently

Branches laden

with tiny green orbs

promise succulence

and oil

I break off

an inconspicuous leafy twig

and pick a few

ripe black pearls

from the sodden ground

wipe the mud off

wrap them in tissue

and tuck them

in my pocket

Long, long ago

there was a wedding here

The wine ran out

so Jesus turned water

into choicest wine

and joy

kept flowing

I am with my bridegroom

of two weeks

our vows green

as the fruit

of these trees

I finger the ripe olives

in my pocket

…believe in joy

that keeps flowing

Maude Carolan Pych

The above poem commemorates our amazing honeymoon/pilgrimage. Bob and I were married October 21, 2006 and celebrated seven years of "joy keeps flowing" this week. I praise God for being the most important strand in the three-strand-cord of our union...Marriage takes three! Happy Anniversary, Bob. I love you.

I dedicated this poem to Bob, during the open reading at an event at Watchung Booksellers, Montclair, NJ, last weekend.