never sure what to expect
the kindness of strangers
the family dynamics dressed for the occasion
the stairs to a house of love past and future
hope takes a needed rest.

the dancer and the artist are getting married
they ask us to light candles in votives and tell us we are the light
they professes their love over and over while we stare into the flames
the house they are married in is the home of friends, a gay couple together 30 years.
i am still feeling a risidual
i am still nervous I am still a fraud
if I say this then I am,
it makes me sip the candle and toast the glass
my shoulder binds up.
my core locked
he can't make me happy so he stands closer
he holds the plate while I filled it
I am still nervous