Although a wedding gift, this is as much about the planet, and what heritage there might be for any children.
Here are the words:
What if the love we share
can shield us from the outside world?
If we have love enough,
the madness all around us may seem
less important.

What if the four deadly horsemen
are riding to hunt us down?
If we see them coming,
we can maybe jump out of their way

If we gave up eating meat
and dairy,
and we didn't buy shares
in anything,
would disaster be averted?
What difference can two people make?

What if love is enough,
not just you and me, and family,
but everyone we don't know.
Are they just like us?

What if extinction is postponed
in our lifetime,
or in our childrens', childrens', childrens',
should we decide to have some.
Should we decide to have some?

But if love is enough,
not just you and me, and family,
but everyone we don't know,
it might save the planet;
it might save us all.

A blessing for your wedding

Setting of a poem called 'A Private' by the WW1 poet, Edward Thomas who was killed near Arras in 1917.
The initial setting was for tenor voice and piano, but I took out the words and arranged it for string quartet.
Thomas was ambiguous about volunteering for the army. His poetry features the English landscape with people missing from it. I tried to capture the conflict of emotion. The cello provides a 'walking bass' that suggests the marching soldier. 'The Private' commemorates a ploughman, used to sleeping out of doors, who now sleeps in the soil in France.

A blessing for your wedding

John Middleton

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