Wedding Rescue

Timothy Pilgrim

Wedding Rescue

Reflected, men’s room mirror
outdoor wedding, clear sky.
Groom, pierced, tattooed,

struggles, panic in eyes.
Black tux, on right, nice fit,
he wrestles loose tie –

like marriage gone bad,
stretch thin, unknotted again.
Stranger turned savior,

I offer to drape my neck.
Wide end, short, hang to right,
snake over tip. Squeeze,

use two fingers, spread slit.
Slip it in, pull down, adjust
a bit. Loosen the noose,

drop over groom’s head.
Nose ring bright, he smiles.
I pull the knot tight.