Assembling outside the Hofkirche,
becoming part of the baroque skyline
that Canaletto loved to paint,
the wedding party with balloons,
a hundred or so lime-green wishes
of everlasting love for the couple.
On command they release the balloons
which float up in a bulbous flock,
confusing the resident hawk in the spire
of the Horkirche; slowly line up
to the outstretched hands of
saints and philosophers struck dumb
in blackened stone on the church
roof; bob up above the Old Town
into a blue-grey storm clouds
to be blown beyond Dresden,
join in almost everlasting toxic
happiness with other plastic lovers.
——
Matthew James Friday has had poems published in the following UK and worldwide magazines and literary journals: A Handful of Stones, Bolts of Silk, The Brasilia Review (Brazil), Cadenza, Cake Magazine, Carillon, Cha: An Asian Literary Journal (Hong Kong), Dreamcatcher, Earth Love, Eastlit (East Asia), Erbacce, Envoi, Finger Dance Festival, Gloom Cupboard, IS&T (Ink, Sweat & Tears), The Journal, The New Writer, Orbis, Sentinel Literary Quarterly, Sonic Boom, Third Wednesday (USA), Of Nepalese Clay (Nepal), The Peacock Journal, Pens on Fire, Pulsar Poetry, Rear View Poetry, Red Ink, South Bank Poetry Magazine, The Dawntreader, We Are a Website New Literary Journal (Singapore) and Writing Magazine.