Martin Rizley, a pastor and poet, offers a unique perspective on life, love, and faith. This article delves into two of his poems, “A Precious Wife Is Like Fine Wine” and “I’ll Wish My Years Away,” exploring their contrasting themes of aging, enduring love, and the search for eternal youth.
Contents
A Toast to Enduring Love: “A Precious Wife Is Like Fine Wine”
Rizley’s “A Precious Wife Is Like Fine Wine” uses the metaphor of aging wine to celebrate the enduring beauty and deepening love within a long-lasting marriage. The poem beautifully captures the essence of a wife’s evolving character, comparing her to a vintage wine that improves with age.
The opening lines, “A precious wife is like fine wine, made mellow with the years,” immediately establish the central comparison. The poem emphasizes that time, often seen as an enemy of beauty, actually refines and enhances a wife’s character, making her “well-refined in every wifely grace.” Rizley skillfully uses sensory language, comparing the wife’s character to a wine with a “pleasant aftertaste,” further solidifying the connection between aging and increasing desirability. He contrasts the mature wife with younger women, highlighting the depth and richness of a “vintage soul.”
The poem’s imagery is rich and evocative. Rizley speaks of “tantalizing notes” and compares the wife’s words to “smooth cream” or a “piquant peach,” appealing to the reader’s sense of taste and creating a vivid picture of the wife’s multifaceted personality. The concluding lines elevate the wife to an almost divine status, comparing her to a “wine made from ripe fruit…sent to me from heaven.” This powerful image reinforces the poem’s central message: a loving wife is a precious gift, becoming more valuable and cherished with the passage of time.
The Illusion of Perpetual Youth: “I’ll Wish My Years Away”
In stark contrast to the acceptance of aging in “A Precious Wife Is Like Fine Wine,” “I’ll Wish My Years Away” explores the human desire to defy the natural process of aging. The poem begins with a declaration of defiance: “I’ll wish my years away—oh, yes, I will! For old age is a state of mind, they say.” This sets the stage for a struggle against time, a battle waged with willpower and positive thinking.
Rizley uses a series of commands and affirmations, urging the reader (and perhaps himself) to reject the physical manifestations of aging. He encourages the reader to “tell yourself, ‘I’m young!'” and envision wrinkles and other signs of age disappearing. The poem’s tone is initially optimistic, suggesting that a strong mind can overcome physical decline.
However, as the poem progresses, a shift occurs. The initial bravado gives way to a more realistic acknowledgment of time’s relentless march. Despite his efforts to “reverse the march of years,” the speaker admits that “the flow of time still drags me in its stream.” This realization leads to a poignant conclusion: true hope for lasting youth lies not in earthly attempts to defy aging, but in faith and the promise of eternal renewal through Christ.
Conclusion: Two Perspectives on Time and Mortality
These two poems by Martin Rizley offer contrasting perspectives on the human experience of time and mortality. “A Precious Wife Is Like Fine Wine” celebrates the beauty of aging and the deepening of love over time, while “I’ll Wish My Years Away” explores the human desire to defy aging and ultimately finds solace in the promise of eternal life. Both poems, through their distinct themes and imagery, offer a thoughtful reflection on the passage of time and the search for meaning in the face of mortality.