Marriage Vows

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Two prior promises

Lay claim before

The nuptial vow

And relegate my love

To lesser realms.

 

The agony -

The clamouring cries

For health and comfort

Drag me from my love -

Madame Hippocrates.

 

The dying souls of men

Compel salvation's rescue

In the deep of night.

I pledged I would not leave them

For an hour with you.

 

So much apart

And yet together, to fulfil

These doubled-storied vows

Enslaving me to men,

And not to you.

 

To Margaret

 

December 1976