2012/marriage

MARRIAGE

Like being poor
with a threadbare
coat.
It’s not the coat
you want,
but the only coat
you have. And it is
winter. You feel
ashamed, of course,
going out like that.
Dreading the stares
and whispers. The turned
heads, people who
will not give you
the dignity of meeting
your eyes.
The lining you stitched
up last year has only
ripped again. The
outside patches showing.
All the tatters, all
the frays you’ve patched and
patched and patched
(again). until you
just don’t have
the heart to try
to patch (it) again.

8/18/12