The Arch And The Canyon
Sophia’s parents traveled to the deserts of Arizona — Drew’s home state — for a pop-up ceremony at Arcosanti, a creative community housed in an architecturally imaginative village created by Italian futurist Paolo Soleri.
Nearby the experimental city’s concrete cubes and jangling wind chimes, we made vows to our parents under the structure’s vaulted arches, overlooking aged Italian cypress trees and a craggy canyon.
Check out photographer Jessica Jameson’s photos of our Arcosanti adventure.
Afterward, we all sat on a log, drank champagne, and watched the moonrise, while the compound’s cat, Yuki, followed us like a shadow.
Photo by Jessica Jameson.
The next day, we worked with Arcosanti artisan Bianka Alban to craft ceramic bells using clay from the region; it was a wedding bell to call our own.
Our bell brings back the memories of that magical day.
The Blessing
Photo by Jessica Jameson.
To honor the area’s heritage, Drew’s mother Anne, read an adapted excerpt from Muscogee (Creek) Nation poet —and U.S. Poet Laureate — Joy Harjo’s work, “Bless This Land.”
“Bless this land from the top of its head to the bottom of its feet
Bless the eyes of this land, for they witness cruelty and kindness in
this land
Bless the ears of this land, for they hear cries of heartbreak
and shouts of celebration in this land
Bless the mouth, lips and speech of this land, for the land is a
speaker, a singer, a keeper of all that happens here, on this land
Bless the arms and hands of this land, for they remake and restore
beauty in this land
Bless the heart of this land on its knees planting food beneath the
eternal circle of breathing, swimming and walking this land
Bless the gut labyrinth of this land, for it is
the center of unknowing in this land
Bless the femaleness and maleness of this land, for each holds the
fluent power of becoming in this land
Bless the two legs and two feet of this land, for the sacred always
walks beside the profane in this land
Bless the destruction of this land, for new shoots will rise up from
fire, floods, earthquakes and fierce winds to make new this land
Bless the creation of new land, for out of chaos we will be
compelled to remember to bless this land
Bless us, these lands, said the rememberer. These lands aren’t our
lands. These lands aren’t your lands. We are this land.”
Bless the eyes of this land, for they witness cruelty and kindness in
this land
Bless the ears of this land, for they hear cries of heartbreak
and shouts of celebration in this land
Bless the mouth, lips and speech of this land, for the land is a
speaker, a singer, a keeper of all that happens here, on this land
Bless the arms and hands of this land, for they remake and restore
beauty in this land
Bless the heart of this land on its knees planting food beneath the
eternal circle of breathing, swimming and walking this land
Bless the gut labyrinth of this land, for it is
the center of unknowing in this land
Bless the femaleness and maleness of this land, for each holds the
fluent power of becoming in this land
Bless the two legs and two feet of this land, for the sacred always
walks beside the profane in this land
Bless the destruction of this land, for new shoots will rise up from
fire, floods, earthquakes and fierce winds to make new this land
Bless the creation of new land, for out of chaos we will be
compelled to remember to bless this land
Bless us, these lands, said the rememberer. These lands aren’t our
lands. These lands aren’t your lands. We are this land.”
