Marriage

 

 

If you are married

Don’t try to detach

And if you are not

Be sure of your match.

 

Don’t rush into marriage

For any reason at all,

An unfulfilled marriage

Is the worst kind of fall.

 

The only thing that’s worse

Than an unfulfilled single life

Is an unfulfilled marriage

That is loaded with strife.

 

Pretty faces wear off

And alluring voices too

And the muscles you see

May be a mistaken view.

 

Strength of character

Does not grow on limbs

And movie-like marriages

Are made for films.

 

In the real world however

Marriage is for real

And the spouse is not a car

That one puts up for sale.

 

 

Until death do us part

Was the solemn vow,

It should be kept in view

Even when there is a row.

 

 

For while it is beautiful

Marriage can be marred

By the things one says

That leave indelible scars.

 

The enticing charm goes

And the beauty turns ugly

None of these comes to the fore

In an ongoing hostility.

 

On occasions it’s easy

And sometimes it is rough

But the overall picture says

Marriage is for the tough.

 

If you lack backbone

Or your spine is jelly-like

Think hard before marrying

For marriage is a fight.

 

On this you may disagree

You may be at the start,

Wait a little while

When something falls apart.

 

The truth of the matter is

It should get better with time

If you put in the effort

And make up your mind.

 

Fight for your marriage

Not against one another,

If you are unequally yoked

Now that’s a different matter.

 

Be sure to consider

And examine each angle

For a bad marriage

Can leave your life in a tangle.

 

Divorce is horrid

Especially when a child is involved

And just parting ways

Does not all matters resolve.

 

 

Tongue and teeth will clash

As ours sometimes do

But both of these are important

If our food we must chew.

 

Our teeth will draw blood

When they bite our tongue

But even when false

We still keep some around.

 

For a marriage to work

Each spouse is required,

Should either one quit

That marriage has expired.

 

All the more reason

Why you ought to be sure

That you have God’s peace

Before you enter that door.

 

Stewart Russell © February 2018