Excitement filled the air

Inside and outside our little

Carroll Street red brick church

The brides were about to finish

Dressing in white for this

Double wedding—sister and cousin

Many of us had roles

And responsibilities

Everybody would be so dressed up

Doing their best

To get it carried off

Mama and Daddy looked great

Always did love Mama’s

Lite n Brite hair

In their prime they were—

Flowers everywhere and linen

Of all sorts—big, little, square, round,

You name it we had it

Later the big cake and punch

Crystal and glasses

Ice and sherbet

The peanuts and candied mints

All those friends and relatives

At the same time beneath one roof

My cousin, Nolan, and I the ushers

New suits, new shoes, ties

I loved my sister

Now she was going to be a Mrs.

Leave us to live across town

In their own apartment

I had that same awe years later

Trying to sell stringed pianos

A potential buyer told Frances,

My veteran sales trainer, he’d pay cash

‘Uh, can we touch ya?’ Frances said.

He bought.