Well of Laughter, Well of Tears

“Nothing fancy,

it’s only symbolic after all,

but we’ll go to the Seine

for the ceremony.”

Where in Paris do you look

for trinkets? In a budget

jewellery shop we told the woman

what we wanted and she

helped us choose, wishing us well

as she handed her a small bag,

the manufacturer’s guarantee card

inside. It was raining.

We couldn’t reach the Seine

and at the Place de la Contrescarpe

the ring became part

of her finger.

Like gold the well of laughter,

like silver the well of grief,

no one to celebrate with,

the grief guaranteed.