our flight back home
from Belize, where we’d gotten engaged
was delayed
if we could’ve
gone to the beach
it would have been epic
but we’d turned in
our piece of crap
rental car
so we were stuck
at a crowded
airport for hours
once we finally boarded
we dreamed about
our honeymoon
we were deciding
between scuba certification
and returning to Belize
or going to Paris
the city
of love
after a short discussion
we settled on
Paris
and my heart
flew back to Colorado
above the plane
***
the day
when an email
arrived
with a photo of
the air BnB boat
you had booked us
on the Seine
beneath the Locks of Love Bridge
at the base of the Louvre
for
our
honeymoon
I kind of
screamed
when I saw it
my class
of fourth graders jumped
till they saw me smiling
I don’t think
there’s ever been such a romantic gesture
in all my life
***
I’m reminded
of our flight to Paris
for our honeymoon
we were tired
but kind of giddy
from just getting married
at the layover
in Reykjavik
you fell asleep
had I not
heard the announcement for boarding
we would have missed our flight
not the worst thing
that could have happened
but I’m glad we made it to Paris
***
in 11 days
your Celebration of Life
will take place
at the place where we wed
where we lived
where we loved
your memorial bench
has a great view
of where we found home
Jennifer Gurney lives in Colorado where she teaches, paints, writes and hikes. Her poetry is widely published, two of her poems have won international contests and one was turned into a choral piece. One of her poems was recently long listed for the Elizabeth Royal Patton Poetry Prize. Jennifer has eight books of poetry, My Eyes Adjusting (2024), Liquid Sky (2025), Love’s Echolocation (2025), Light Matters More (2025), Unheard Verses (2025), Life Extends Outward (2025), The Curiosity of Roadside Attractions (forthcoming), and Indelible Ink (forthcoming). Her poetry manuscript, We Are Never Ready: A Collection of Grief Poems, made Honorable Mention for the 2025 Concrete Wolf Louis Award. Also, in just three years, more than 2,200 of Jennifer’s poems have been published. Her poetry crosses a wide range of form, subject and style with a consistent voice that is honest and authentic, conveying all that is on her heart.
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