A Thousand Weddings“Undying Love” - is there really such a thing? Yes, sometimes love really does last a lifetime ….Each morning Charlie visits and he brings a dozen roses.
Each morning Rosie’s beaming as he once again proposes.
The nurses cheer “Congratulations!” Rosie smiles so sweetly
and wears her sweet-heart’s diamond ring. It always fits so neatly.
It’s nine o’clock and this is how it happens every morning,
the gentleman and lady chat, but then without a warning
poor Rosie’s face will draw a blank, she’ll lose all comprehension -
no memories, and Charlie's left again without attention.
T’was more than sixty years ago he’d waltzed her at their wedding,
but now he sees her waste away - they say the cancer’s spreading.
Each day, they have an hour or so, their bliss a brief adventure,
before her mind is gripped again by claws of cruel dementia.
Each day he tells her stories and he takes her on a journey
with memories of farming on their property “Belldurnie”.
She doesn’t see a bent old man. To her, he’s only twenty,
when love was so exciting and the good times were a-plenty.
There’s some things she remembers well and some things she’s forgotten,
like working side by side in summer, picking rows of cotton,
the joy of swaying wheat fields, or the fear of bushfires roaring,
the fun at local dances, or the peace of eagles soaring.
She laughs to hear his joyful tales, but some give Rosie shivers.
Charles tells of storms and cattle drowned in swirling flash-flood rivers,
then snowflakes in the mountains and the bell birds’ song at daybreak.
They toiled as one, shared victories, shared ev’ry breath and heartache.
Romantic stories told each day, with passion full and burning -
brings joy to Rose, but leaves old Charlie empty, sad and yearning.
The gift he gives, is not just tales of outback skill and daring -
he manufactures happy times of children’s love and caring.
They would have loved a dozen kids, but never could have any,
so Charles created Jessica, and Bradley, Tom and Penny.
Rose would have been a perfect Mum, loved cooking cakes and sewing.
Her face lights up - she asks about the grandkids, "Are they growing?"
Rose listens, laughs, and loves old Charles. Her eyes of hazel twinkle.
She touches Charlies’ leathered face, but never sees a wrinkle.
She sees a handsome, dashing lad and snuggles in real cosy.
He kisses her so tenderly - he loves his darling Rosie.
The nurses smile to see her sleeping, snug against his shoulder
a blessing Charles is grateful for - a special chance to hold her
before her mind goes blank again and leaves her with no notion
of who he is ... the love they share ... the depth of his devotion.
While Rosie sleeps, old Charles will leave. The nurses know the danger
if Rose should wake up baffled in the arms of “just a stranger”.
She’ll panic, tears will trickle down, she’ll cringe in shy confusion,
and Charlie’s heart will break again at Rosie’s scared exclusion.
So carefully, the nurses help as Charlie stands and kisses
the sleeping face of Rose, his bride, “Goodbye for now, sweet Missus”.
As Charlie slowly shuffles out, his shoulders droop with sorrow.
He gently holds that diamond ring - he’ll need it for tomorrow.
For three long years … a thousand days … the scene just keeps repeating,
with Rose, the only reason that old Charlie keeps on eating.
The nurses know that when Rose goes, old Charles will go soon after.
He’ll follow Rose to Heaven’s doors to hear his lover’s laughter.
Until that day, he’ll find the strength to keep on bringing roses,
to watch his bride’s excitement as he once again proposes.
The promise of a thousand weddings - Rosie smiles so sweetly
and wears her sweet-heart’s diamond ring. It always fits so neatly.
