Fifteen years of steadfast hearts,
A civil vow begun;
And fifteen more since church‑blessed hands
Were folded into one.

Ten years ago in Dublin town,
Where joy rose clear and true;
So forty anniversaries now—
A life long bound in you.

Through every year the love held fast,
In quiet, faithful grace;
A long devotion, gently kept,
No time can now erase.

Written for Andrew on our fortieth anniversary, yesterday.

The arithmetic is unusual but quite simple: fifteen years since our civil partnership, fifteen years since our church blessing, and ten years since our civil marriage. These anniversaries are concurrent, giving forty anniversaries to celebrate in all.

Originally published on NeuroDivine.ie