2000/marriage

Is marriage supposed to be
so much hate?
Women I know think so,
have said as much for years,
“It’s as good as it gets.”
“That’s how they are,
they’re all the same.”
The baker paints her tools pink
and locks them up,
the gardener is considering red
to make her claim.
“We do okay at home,”
they say, “but can’t travel.”
Or, “We can make it
for a weekend but not
for a whole week.”
Fenced in with terms
and conditions.
I intended something better.
But try and fail.
And try again.
Hope. Defeat.
Resignation.

3/22/00