Rime of the Bachelor Party

About a forty years I belonged to a small spiritual community in California

A acquaintance of mine planned to be married, and someone organized a bachelor party. There were at least a dozen men attending. The scene that comes to mind was in a living room space. The men were seated around the perimeter, and some on the couches and chairs in the middle of the room. One of the men, a very talented vocalist, sang an aria. Very impressive. I forgot exactly what he sang but that it was not the highlight of the event, at least, not for me. The other men brought packaged gifts, none of which I remember. However one memorable guest offered an unusual presentation, that was very unique. I don’t know why I suddenly remembered this event after so many years, while I was listening to an episode of Hidden Brain,but it is what it is. The unique presenter, who was about 6’6” tall, sat the groom down in an easy chair, and then he sat on one of the padded arms of the chair. 

The presenter put his left hand on the groom’s right shoulder and proceeded to recite without notes, from memory,  the poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge : The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Looking the poem over today, I wouldn’t be surprised if the presenter hadn’t recited the entire poem and, I recall, with impressive confidence and calmness. He didn’t falter or hesitate amidst the mixed, although respectful reactions from the other men. The groom’s face was a study in amazement, incredulity, and amusement. Need I bother to say, that the recitation altered and deepened the depth and nature of the bachelor party.

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