is the 31st anniversary
of My Marriage
to The Father of My Three Children —
and a Good Father He is.
It was a day like today:
Still, Hot and Sublime
My legal Husband
is transformed:
He is My Boyfriend now —
and Eye have always wanted
one of Those.
Where Are My Ribs?
Eye am permitted
to view The Sun surfacing
delayed by rightful cloud
There is a place for Marriage
in amongst the confessions
of many — The Vow
and if You break it
You’re in trouble.
My First Vow was “until Death”
and The Death was My Mother’s —
My Second
I don’t remember voicing
and the wedding itself
was an abomination.
The Scraggly Apple
is Dead Butt Eye am Alive
to know It fully
I had a dream
of a house, my house
on an island
with a row of carrots
planted by the back
and the Eastern Sun
out front
and a man I could call
my own — well
he says he’s not in my life
he will not leave his wife
and so must I salvage
my second marriage
in some capacity
or should I, could I
be Independent?
Husband turned Me down
for the holiday weekend —
My Bed is for Me
Joanna Gilman Hyde 