We Thought We Would Marry

A reverie for this day, an almost true history, a true story nonetheless...in all the parallel worlds that I inhabit, somewhere this is directly true. I had to dredge a bit and then sharpen my recall so this comes from far away. In my current life it is merely an echo. I too have thought we would marry.

We Thought We Would Marry

Stumps of toppled trees
hewn years ago - cut by men
of pioneer stripe -
align my edges,
are lit by the last dim sun
of this evening.
I hear you pass by,
the usual clamor of joy,
your mate in the work,
in the warp, the weft,
the fabric you weave for us,
for all those you love.

‎May ‎17, ‎2012 4:03 PM

Saint Bartholomew by Jusepe de Ribera
1591-1652

"Many of us spend our whole lives running from feeling with the mistaken belief that we cannot bear the pain. But you have already borne the pain. What you have not done is feel all you are beyond the pain." - Saint Bartholomew

St. Bartholomew, 1st. century, one of the 12. All that is known of him with certainty is that he is mentioned in the synoptic gospels and Acts as one of the twelve apostles. His name, a patronymic, means "son of Tolomai" and scholars believe he is the same as Nathanael mentioned in John, who says he is from Cana and that Jesus called him an "Israelite...incapable of deceit." The Roman Martyrology says he preached in India and Greater Armenia, where he was flayed and beheaded by King Astyages. Tradition has the place as Abanopolis on the west coast of the Caspian Sea and that he also preached in Mesopotamia, Persia, and Egypt. The Gospel of Bartholomew is apochryphal and was condemned in the decree of Pseudo-Gelasius. Feast Day August 24.

Bartholomew (Greek: Βαρθολομαίος, transliterated "Bartholomaios") comes from the Aramaic bar-Tôlmay (תולמי‎‎‎‎‎-בר‎‎), meaning son of Tolmay (Ptolemy) or son of the furrows (perhaps a ploughman).