Bloody Hearts Ode

Bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh: (Genesis 2:23) A man leaves his mother and father To cleave to his wife. --No thoughts whatever of marital strife. Then the children arrive, Heralds of joy. One is a girl; another a boy. At first all is bliss With the master and miss. Then suddenly, THWACK, The façade shows a crack. Be it spit-up or colic, Or just one sleepless night. Both parents agree, Something's not right. The blame and the guilt, The guilt and the blame: Can any marriage survive Such a cruel game? Fast forward a bit Past tears and accusations, To late teen years Of monetary machinations. The fights and the shouting, The wounds and the pouting; The warnings and threats, The mountains of debt... And now that the darlings are married And settled, You're on call 24/7, Constantly nettled. But in hindsight it's worth it, That much is clear. So I'll end this bloody ode On a note of good cheer: Happy Valentine's Day, My Wife, My Love, My Dear! (February 02 2018)