I’ll Marry When I Marry

[HUCKLEBEE, spoken]
Son, Ive picked you out a girl. A pearl.

[MATT, spoken]
And if I prefer a diamond?

[HUCKLEBEE, spoken]
How dare you prefer a diamond
When I've just offered you a pearl!

[MATT, spoken]
Listen carefully to what I have to say
Listen, wall
And flowers, and willow, too
And wounded bird
And Father, you
May as well listen, too

I will not wed by your wisdom
I will not walk neatly into a church
And contract out to prolongate my race

[HUCKLEBEE, spoken]
What?

[MATT, spoken]
I will not go wedding in a too-tight suit
Nor be witnessed when I take my bride

[HUCKLEBEE, spoken]
You will do as—

[MATT, spoken]
No!

I'll marry, when I marry
In my own particular way
And my bride shall dress in sunlight
With rain for her wedding veil
Out in the open
With no one standing by
No song еxcept Septembеr
Being sung in the busy grass
No sound except our heartbeats—
Roaring!
Like a flower alive with bees
Without benefit of neighbor
Without benefit of book
Except perhaps her handprint
As she presses her hand in mine
Except perhaps her imprint
As she gives me her golden hair!
In a field, while kneeling
Being joined by the joy of life!

There!
In the air!
In the open!
That's how I plan to wive!

[HUCKLEBEE, spoken]
Son, you need pruning.