Grace for the Wedding Reception

                                                                     of Andrew and Diana

                                                                             Thank you Lord for dear Diana

                                                                             Who in her scintillating manner

                                                                             Lifts life's gloom and makes things better

                                                                             With each year's crazy Christmas letter;

                                                                             Whose hair, so preternaturally white,

                                                                             Turns-turtle Time, puts age to flight;

                                                                             Whose earth-soiled hands and broken nails

                                                                             Be-flower beds and murder snails;

                                                                             Whose biceps lift the sort of weight

                                                                             To make a navvy hesitate;

                                                                             Who’s travelled far and travelled wide

                                                                             And taken so much in her stride;

                                                                             Whose heart is big, embraces all               

                                                                             And brooks no enemies at all;

                                                                             Who loves and captivates not least

                                                                             A wayward, wandering Aussie priest.

                                                                             Thank you Lord for Andrew Neaum,

                                                                             Whose nickname should be Carpe Diem,

                                                                             For though not fast and far from sainted,

                                                                             When only briefly reacquainted

                                                                             He yet, upon Midsummer's Day

                                                                             Seized upon and made a play

                                                                             (Graveyard benched, in chivalrous manner)

                                                                             For the hand in marriage of Diana.

                                                                             Who’d have thought she’d acquiesce?

                                                                             But that she did, she gave her “Yes”.

                                                                             A risk transforming both their lives,

                                                                             Their mutual love the sort that thrives

                                                                             On change and risk and bouleverser

                                                                             (Pardonner please my French mauvais!)

                                                                             Thanks too for friends from near and far

                                                                             Who've come by train or plane or car

                                                                             To celebrate this happy day

                                                                             In such an openhearted way.

                                                                             For sparkling booze and lovely food,

                                                                             For joyful atmosphere and mood,

                                                                             For jokes and burps and loud guffaws,

                                                                             For dancing, laughter and applause;

                                                                             For this, for that, for all and such,

                                                                             Thank you, Lord so very much! Amen.

                                                            Nathan and Lil's

                                                              Wedding Grace

                                                                             Elizabeth's beloved mama

                                                                             As well as me, her old papa,

                                                                             Thank God their effervescent Lil

                                                                             Has married not some dolt or dill,

                                                                             Some poxy prat, some grim galah

                                                                             But six feet five of fun McGrath.

                                                                             Bidding "Neaum" au revoir

                                                                             To be forever, Lil McGrath.

                                                                             And Verna, Nathan's loved mama

                                                                             With John as well, his dear papa

                                                                             Thank the Lord, that with savoir

                                                                             Their Nathan's picked a Neaum star

                                                                             And not some flighty, fool galah

                                                                             His life to share. It's better far

                                                                             To bid Miss Neaum au revoir

                                                                             Than miss being Mrs Lil McGrath.

                                                                             Indeed, we all, without exception,

                                                                             Thank you Lord at this Reception

                                                                             In honour of a bride and groom

                                                                             Whose mutual love we all assume

                                                                             Will deepen, strengthen, flourish, bloom,

                                                                             As well as widen, making room

                                                                             For small McGraths, both girls and boys

                                                                             To fill their life with joys and noise. 

                                                                             And thanks for friends from near and far

                                                                             Who've come by train and plane and car

                                                                             To celebrate this dancing day

                                                                             In Lil and Nathan's chosen way,

                                                                             With sparkling booze and hearty food,

                                                                             With joyful atmosphere and mood,

                                                                             And jokes and dancing, burps and roars

                                                                             Of happy laughter and applause;

                                                                             For this, for that, for all and such,

                                                                             Thank you, Father, very much! Amen.