A writer shares a tribute to his partner through a litany of some of the happiest memories they’ve shared together
by Michael Beadle | illustration by Tesh Parekh

Michael Beadle is a poet, author and teaching artist living in Raleigh. His work has appeared in Kakalak, Broad River Review, NC Literary Review and Apple Valley Review. A former journalist, magazine editor and high school English teacher, he teaches creative writing workshops as a touring writer-in-residence. “What brought you joy today? It’s a simple question, a daily practice I use to honor and observe moments of gratitude, a reminder to be thankful for the gifts of life. I wrote the poem ‘I Do’ as a tribute to my partner, a litany of some of the happiest memories we’ve shared together.”

Tesh Parekh is an awarding winning oil and watercolor artist in Raleigh with a focus on plein air, portraits, and live events.

This article originally appeared in the July 2025 issue of WALTER magazine.