As a relic of the legal art
I’m still aroused by words.
And never to the point to say
That law is for the birds.

And yet there is that misty view
Which one can take of codes
That sometimes merit zeal and fervour
Rather like a nuptial ode.

The union state is very fine –
A magical collusion.
A poetry for those in time
Who suffer no illusion.

Though contracts come and contracts go
The idyllic romance lingers.
Romeo and Juliet were history’s
Harbingers and mystery lover bringers.

Let no one try to ever steal
The passion of your hearts.
Let no one attempt to say
There’s chance you’ll fall apart.

The voyage across the sea of life
Is instilled by hope forever.
The greatest world upon our globe
Is clearly meant for lovers!

Best wishes to you both upon your marriage!

Love and affection as always, Bill and Denis
Almonte, Ontario
November 30, 2019

**********

December 4, 2019
Longboat Key, Florida

Dear Gilles and Scott,

I trust this finds you both well – and especially you, Scott, we hope you’ve fully recovered – or at the very least that you’re in the process of recovering – from your recent hospitalization.

The photo and poem above are obviously about the wedding of Erin and Julien. It took place on November 30th, 2019 in Australia. What you may not immediately recall is that many years ago (when Erin was attending McGill University and just turning 18 years of age – old enough legally to drink alcohol) she was the apodictic ornament of our white lined dining jamboree at Laloux restaurant off Rue St. Denis in Montréal. To my everlasting discredit I became hopelessly drunk and at the end of the meal insisted upon enflaming my Cognac by rotating the snifter so the vapours of the distilled liquor graced the inner edges of the ballon and permitted me to ignite the contents with my lighter. This caused our server to become anxious to an Olympic degree – though it must be confessed that no shooting flames resulted nor did I succeed to incinerate the entire dining room and adjoining mahogany bar.

Neither Erin nor Julien have had the courtesy to study law or medicine – the only two professions I am capable to recognize by name or description. Instead they have adopted some terribly esoteric learning. Erin advises billionaires how to improve their corporate performance. Julien’s business is equally atmospheric, engineering on an international scale. As a result they dash about the globe performing these incomprehensible exploits. Gone are the days when Erin moonlighted as a model in Spain or France. Now her European resolve for entertainment is confined to cycling in the Swiss Alps or darting about the bogs in Ireland for similarly athletic purpose.

Cheers!

B&D