Divorce...Division Then Multiplication Poem by Pleasant Dabbs

He awaited the news,
A blistering blitzkrieg
On his emotions;
But then recovering,

As does the pedestrian
Who is struck by
A careless driver
Who ignored

The protective yellow lines
Of the crosswalk,
Picks himself up
Brushes off his clothes

And continues on his way;
He attempted to comprehend
The meaning of the word
And its consequences.

'Sever' she says.
How do you sever something
That is inseverible?
In today's world,

Severing a relationship
Can be likened to penetrating melted butter
It cuts and spreads effortlessly.
In the supermarket

New products are demoed,
Quickly consumed
And replace their
Predecessor instantly

No warning. No red flashing lights
No descending half barriers.
But like the water balloon
Which is thrown (drenching the face

Of an unwary spectator) ,
Immediately arouses
The groggy eyed observer,
The news awakened him

And compelled him to ask the question...
Why? Was it me? Was it her?
After recovering from the ‘breaking news'
He pondered, attempting to answer

Those questions...
What would cause my wife to even
Consider such a life-altering event?
Their marriage had most certainly

Not been one deserving the award
Of ‘the perfect marriage', but still
In spite of their differences
They had endured, continued on,

Overcome weaknesses and offenses made
And their relationship had evolved
Into something steady and long-lasting.
He began to ponder, reflect and deliberate...

Just recently he had criticized her for
Her laxness in keeping the house
As clean and organized as he thought it should be.
He recently complained that she was late

In making his breakfast. He failed to recognize
And praise her for her support when he was
Going through difficulties...the death of his father,
The loss of employment when his company

Downsized, the care she administered to him
When he was very, very sick.
As he reflected, he realized that
Instead giving her the support

And recognition she deserved
He was criticizing her into oblivion
She just couldn't take it anymore
The word ‘sever' or divorce,

After it was said
Also caused her mind to stir
What kind of a wife was she?
Had she done some things less worthy

Of being the ‘perfect wife'?
She thought of times where she had
Like him, failed to express gratefulness
For his never-ending faithfulness as a provider

For her and the family,
For his excellence as a father,
For repairing and fixing anything
Needing fixing in the home

In short, she wanted to divorce him
For some of the same things she was
Doing or not doing. Hmmmmmm...
After reflecting,

They sat down together in the kitchen
And reviewed and shared their thoughts
With each other. Both now, admitting
Their negligence in treating each other

With gratefulness
And the recognition they deserved
She backed off, regretting her precipitation
In making the announcement

And they began to talk reconciling
Their differences and their neglect
In displaying, both vocally, and in action
How they accepted and appreciated

Each other. After some deliberation,
They both realized their mistake
And vowed to do better.
That ‘sever' turned into ‘ever'

As in ever-lasting. They once again
Made a commitment to vocalize
Their love, appreciation and commitment
To each other. To forgive, and then live!

Live in harmony, in hope for a better future
To live worthy of receiving the Lord's blessing
In their lives individually and together
As a pair. Their, or better said, her decision

To petition a division resulted in a
Multiplication of love, of dedication,
Of understanding, of commitment.
Oh, that we could all ‘sever' ourselves

From that which divides
And multiply that which
Unites, which brings together