Ceremony Reading Inspiration: Thomas Moore

I am still having trouble choosing a ceremony reading and my pending nuptuals are quickly approaching! So, I wanted to share with you another poem that is definitely a top contender.  It's by the Irish poet Thomas Moore, and I admire it not only for it's lovely prose, but also the fact that it would incorporate some of our Irish heritage into the ceremony.  Compared to the Louis de Bernieres excerpt that I previously blogged about, "Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms" is the much more romantic poem of the two.  Thomas Moore wrote it for his new bride to assure her that he would still love her ardently even if her beauty faded tomorrow.  I love the message that he sees that her beauty on the inside, and not on the surface, and that he will love her more over time, not less.

Believe me, if all those endearing young charms

Which I gaze on so fondly today,

Were to fade by tomorrow, and fleet in my arms

Like fairy gifts fading away;

Thou wouldst still be adored

At this moment thou art,

Let thy loveliness fade as it will.

And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart,

Would entwine itself verdantly still.

It is not while beauty and youth are thine own,

And thy cheeks unprofaned by a tear,

That the fervor and faith of a soul can be known,

To which time will but make thee more dear!

No, the heart that has truly loved never forgets,

But, as truly loves on to the close,

As the sun-flower turns on her god, when he sets,

The same look which she turned when he rose!

Either way, I am probably going to incorporate both pieces into the ceremony.  One will be printed on the front of my program, and the other will be read by a friend during the ceremony.  Thus, the question becomes do I choose the romantic, flowery poem to be read during the ceremony or the realistic poem that more represents us as a couple?