18 May 2012, Arkansas

midnight wasn't far;
except for us
pouring from the car,
the street was unpeopled.
From the sidewalk,
we heard laughter trickling from
the brightly lit hall.
To leave the dark sidewalk
step up three painted steps
into light framed
by street-side windows
was to enter a zone
separated from that of the town,
as though clocks ran at a different pace
within this magic reception hall.

family clustered at the little dance floor,
father of the bride stood
on a new metal ladder
hanging a chandelier.
the glass disks dangled
light bent and voices echoed.

staff bearing vases and cloths
floated from table to table;
their feet didn't touch the ground.
the bride and groom arrived
to check on the preparations
they reported they were not nervous