The Lament of the Mormon Wife: A Poem

Through a lyrical voice, the poem invites listeners into the quiet attic of a 19th‑century Mormon wife, who recalls the tender moments of her early marriage—her husband's gentle hands, the promise of a ring, and the simple beauty of a northern village nestled at a mountain's foot. The verses weave together images of golden sunsets, blossoming thorns, and the steady rhythm of family life, capturing both the devotion she feels and the quiet hopes that once seemed as bright as sunrise.

Yet beneath the calm, an unsettling shadow begins to grow as another woman enters the husband's world, stirring jealousy and doubt. The narrator's lament unfolds with raw honesty, describing how love can feel both a sanctuary and a source of sorrow when loyalties are tested. Listeners are drawn into her internal struggle, feeling the weight of unspoken prayers and the ache of a heart that fears being eclipsed.