the Imam, the Priest, the Monk;
all of them at once endorsing
love between two men
not only as acceptable
but as sacred.
Ìý
the power of the moment
as metaphor for love
for what’s possible with love
overshadowed only
by its immanent beauty.
Ìý
right then in front of my eyes
a union transcending boundaries
subverting history
and empowering faith
all at once
Ìý
passion in action; love in form.
Ìý
With permission from Vasu Bandhu and Johnny Martin to write about their wedding, which was streamed live during the Parliament of the World’s Religions and which I had the honour of virtually attending, I reflected upon this union in my poem. The first verse reflects on the interfaith nature of their wedding which was officiated by an imam, priest, and monk from the Muslim, Christian, and Buddhist traditions respectively. Through this interfaith nature, these religious authorities sent a powerful message across faiths endorsing a brand of love (between two men) which has had a tumultuous relationship with religious structures and rites (notably including marriage) throughout history.
The second verse establishes the beauty and frontality of the event happening right then before the audience’s eyes. This ideal of love being presented is theoretically beautiful, a significant representation of the potential for successful interfaith and queer marriage. But this ideal of love was overshadowed only by its actual immanence - the fact that it was being played out right then and there was the true power of the moment.
The third verse consolidates these ideas. Boundaries of faith were transcended, heteronormative expectations of marriage were broken, the history of the relationship between these components was subverted. The faith of Vasu Bandhu and Johnny Martin as a Buddhist and Muslim respectively was empowered by these transcendental subversions rather than diminished. The final line reflects the active nature of this moment. Love displayed in real form, passion in a moment of real action.
Ryan Brown wrote this poem and reflection as part of his participation in a cohort of students who attend the Parliament of the World's Religions with MORSL in 2021.
