Today is Andrew’s and my anniversary. When deciding what to blog about the second stanza of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Bells” (1849) came to mind.

Hear the mellow wedding bells,
                 Golden bells!
What a world of happiness their harmony foretells!
        Through the balmy air of night
        How they ring out their delight!
           From the molten-golden notes,
               And all in tune,
           What a liquid ditty floats
    To the turtle-dove that listens, while she gloats
               On the moon!
         Oh, from out the sounding cells,
What a gush of euphony voluminously wells!
               How it swells!
               How it dwells
           On the Future! how it tells
           Of the rapture that impels
         To the swinging and the ringing
           Of the bells, bells, bells,
         Of the bells, bells, bells, bells,
               Bells, bells, bells—
  To the rhyming and the chiming of the bells!

Apparently wedding bells originated in Ireland and/or other Celtic lands where they were believed to ward off evil spirits. The ringing of the bells also served to announce the marriage to the surrounding countryside. Two bells joined with a ribbon remains a popular symbol of two people joining together.

Being stuck at home, we indulged in a homemade anniversary dinner of bison steak, pesto fettuccine, and roasted carrots. Now please excuse me while I go eat ice cream and chocolate cookies before bed.