Rita said we needed to get our vows renewed. I told her a marriage license does not expire, She huffed, and she puffed, called me mister stomach ulcer. I offered to be her doctor, prescribed a dozen flowers. She said I wouldn't know a rose from a petunia. Roses are red, violets are blue, I sang, danced like Frank Sinatra.
Great poem. No clue if it’s fiction or about your friend and if the latter, I have no qualifications or desire to give strangerly advice, so I’ll tell a story instead. It happens to be true.
2008 - wife of 27 years wanted to renew vows. That’s enough time for some real mistakes on both ends.
Like your buddy I thought why - we’re already married, and I blew it off, and besides, marriage is up and down, so why bother.
2011 - The divorce - nothing in my life has ever come close to the sustained day after day pain of that experience
2012-2025 - good times, hard times, good women, hard women, scary women, no regrets but
I did become aware many years ago that renewal of vows is an opportunity to forgive mistakes and start fresh, and that by declining, I really did close the door on that possibility without ever really considering that the experience done in the right way could have real meaning and lasting consequences.
It is altogether possible the marriage would’ve survived had we embarked on this symbolic quest. Or not. I’m not wishing for a redo in the time machine - I’m just aware that her request mattered and my answer mattered and may well have had an effect on the till death do us part vow.
So your little poem has real meaning - profound even - at least for me
David, thank you much, and thank you for sharing you story too! I’ve been married twice, but not for almost twenty years. That journey of my life-marriage— is long over for me.
Great poem. No clue if it’s fiction or about your friend and if the latter, I have no qualifications or desire to give strangerly advice, so I’ll tell a story instead. It happens to be true.
2008 - wife of 27 years wanted to renew vows. That’s enough time for some real mistakes on both ends.
Like your buddy I thought why - we’re already married, and I blew it off, and besides, marriage is up and down, so why bother.
2011 - The divorce - nothing in my life has ever come close to the sustained day after day pain of that experience
2012-2025 - good times, hard times, good women, hard women, scary women, no regrets but
I did become aware many years ago that renewal of vows is an opportunity to forgive mistakes and start fresh, and that by declining, I really did close the door on that possibility without ever really considering that the experience done in the right way could have real meaning and lasting consequences.
It is altogether possible the marriage would’ve survived had we embarked on this symbolic quest. Or not. I’m not wishing for a redo in the time machine - I’m just aware that her request mattered and my answer mattered and may well have had an effect on the till death do us part vow.
So your little poem has real meaning - profound even - at least for me
It’s also well constructed and really good!
David, thank you much, and thank you for sharing you story too! I’ve been married twice, but not for almost twenty years. That journey of my life-marriage— is long over for me.
Yes, life’s voyage goes on after marriage, but with more Star Trek Voyager and Family Guy obviously
very very true indeed!
Beautiful poem, reading these words, they felt so real and alive.
Thank you so much for reading and for the comments too!