diff --git a/src/dragonglass/mparse.py b/src/dragonglass/mparse.py
index de4d6d3..b9974fa 100644
--- a/src/dragonglass/mparse.py
+++ b/src/dragonglass/mparse.py
@@ -28,11 +28,21 @@ class ObsidianLinks(Extension):
         def __init__(self, pattern, md):
             super(ObsidianLinks.ObsidianLinksProc, self).__init__(pattern, md)
 
+        def parse_reference(self, contents):
+            text = None
+            t = contents.split('|')
+            if len(t) > 1:
+                text = t[1]
+                contents = t[0]
+            if not text:
+                text = contents
+            return contents, text
+
         def handleMatch(self, m, data):
-            dstr = m.group(0)[2:-2]
+            link, text = self.parse_reference(m.group(0)[2:-2])
             el = etree.Element('a')
-            el.set('href', dstr)
-            el.text = dstr
+            el.set('href', link)
+            el.text = text
             return el, m.start(0), m.end(0)
 
     def extendMarkdown(self, md):