Vow
(listen to the poem, read by the author)
and here am I just as visible
just as corporeal taking you
your body all biological and
visible and your associated
soul not visible but real known
to the extent you allow glimpses
to be my life partner in front
of parents family and friends
with a priest of god presiding
representing the invisible
creator yours and mine also
here present and rendered
visible manifested in all of
us in all our days no matter
what befalls as the planet
spins and processes in its
orbit not knowing what time
flowing through us will bring
to light taking the leap anyway
with the best of intentions until
time stops flowing through one
of us and we step outside letting
it go to sail on silver wings not
knowing in the meantime taking
whatever delight comes with
being beings created and sent
out into the universe well loved
with blessings and best hopes
of participating in creation
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About the Author
James T. Stemmle is an old man, currently living retirement in Riderwood, a senior village, with his wife of 58 years. He writes poetry during morning meditations in his third floor apartment looking out on a parking lot frequently decorated by flashing ambulance lights. He had a Federal Government career mostly with EPA, earned a doctorate from Catholic U in Chemistry, and was born in Louisville, KY. He is eager to share his poetry. Already he has published 43 poems in such literary magazines as: The Octillo Review, Evening Street Review, The Raven’s Perch, Deep South Magazine, Hektoen International: A Journal of Medical Humanities, Literary Veganism: An Online Journal, Cheofpleirn Press, Seattle Star, Poetry Superhighway, Open Arts Forum, Journal of Expressive Writing, The Light Ekphrastic, Midway Journal, Literary Heist, Open Door Poetry Magazine, The Pennsylvania Literary Journal, Poetry Pacific, The Indian Review, The Oakwood Literary Journal, Boshemia, ArLiJo, Réapparition Journal, The Front Range Review, and Narrative Northeast.