The veterans have been married too long
they always remind us
that we’re newlyweds
like our marriage isn’t real
Our married friends
sometimes seem like adversaries
who sleep together
they speak in shades of disdain
with their “humorous” faux insults
“She never gives me any”
“He never puts down the seat”
and I know there is a little truth
in every joke
but we don’t say such things
we’ve had our fights
ugly fountains of hateful words
have hissed through our teeth
and we’ve stretched each other’s patience
what married couple hasn’t?
Still the veterans watch us canoodling
with their gently clucking tongues
predicting our fate
“it’ll change, you’ll see”
their trenchant comments about
lazy husbands and frustrated wives
all betray the same disappointment:
“you’re not the person I married”
well, that’s the point
isn’t it?
to be born again everyday
and to discover the world anew
in your partner’s embrace
in your partner’s eyes
we Jews call this
bashert
our destiny
Sometimes I’ll wake before she does
and I’ll see her sleeping:
that sweet peaceful face
safe and sound
and I cannot help but thank God
for this miracle
and just because a miracle happens everyday
doesn’t make it any less of a miracle
this is a world designed
to pull people apart
this world is custom made for
selfishness
and happy is the coupling
that fights and wins that battle
every day
but if the veterans are right
and we do revert into some
pair of bickering old shoes
then I want to go down
swinging with you
my wish is not impossible:
to treat one another kindly
mindful and respectful of
this good fortune
we have found
in each others arms
I hope we continue to be
mistaken for newlyweds
forever.
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