The minibus pulled up
And out poured
The most colourful procession.
Greens and purples and pinks
Flowers and stripes. 
But most of all smiles. 
A chaos of happiness. 

And we added to the mix.
Carried by the wave of joy into
Fish and chips and love
And champagne in tea cups. 
Of friends and relatives reacquainted
Or met for the first time. 

The cavalcade spilled out on to
the hills in different directions. 
A Prince Charles mask and a Johnny Cash song.
You could almost see the cartoon smoke pouring
from the bus and quavers and crotchets
floating out the windows
Combining with the laughs and squeals. 

The rings arrive too late
But it's never too late and so the ceremony
restarts and fast forwards
To its completion with all present and correct. 
And so the procession moves on. 
Tumbles down the hill and into
the bells and ‘heys’ of the Morris dancers.

Sticks clack and knees raise. 
And cider is drunk
And cheese is eaten with
A good dollop of chutney. 
And with joy still filling the air and the trail
of happiness still fresh in the mind
The carnival disperses. 
But it left with more than it started with.
New friends, new bonds,
new wife, new husband.