The poem sketches a strange little scene around a wedding. The bridegroom and bride begin the morning flushed red, and then someone hands them chalk to lick, which turns their flesh white. The poem doesn't explain this custom, so it's best read as an image rather than a story: natural color is covered over by something pale and artificial, and the title, "White meat," makes the couple sound almost like food being prepared.
The speaker doesn't announce a strong feeling, but the tone is dry and watchful, with a hint of unease. The last two lines carry the point: "with so much appearance / reality was left to sleep." Judging by that, the poem seems to suggest that ceremonies care more about how things look than what is real, and that the real feelings of the two people get quietly set aside. The mood is odd, cool, and a little eerie, like watching a ritual from outside without being told what it means.