LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED BROOM

Love is what you get
after the fairy tell wedding ceremony
and before cupid’s grim reaper
pronounces His eulogy on your heart’s dreams.

It is maxing out your credit card
for some Valentines or Anniversary gift
because you refuse to let debt ruin the celebration,
checking two for one discount coupons
to some bargain restaurant
hoping they serve an entrée
that doesn’t get you sick like the last time.

Kisses in the air of remembered affections,
while half asleep and ambling out to trash can
with a bag of garbage.

Watching those sappy romance movies
and admiring how the air always fills with violins
when the couple embrace,
though you only get the sound of the neighbor’s lawnmower
or the back fire of his out of tune, rusty wreck
should you try to be affectionate.

Admiring how those partners in flicks
seem to have problems that always get fixed
before the film ends,
guys wake up every morning in bed being clean shaven
with wives that rise with perfect hair,

They have kids that listen, boss who understand
and in the middle of it all,
passion always gets a break.

Meanwhile in the real world,
prince charming hocked his armor to pay for car repair,
his goddess has to shop at Walmart
for her sexy, affordable lingerie.

Instead of speaking poetry on Saturday night
two worn out and exhausting creatures
just nap and call it an eve to remember.