In Marriage Poem by RIC BASTASA

to keep this thing
alive
some parts of me
have to be
clipped off
to make this
chain a chain
a bond a bond
of love to be love
concrete and strong
some links
within me have
to be disengaged
disassembled
removed and
even thrown away

i am like
a tree pruned
here and there

you too
on the same
choices

what pains
to take what
sorrows to
make what
joys to discard

inorder to
be one again
and always

inorder to have
fruits and flowers

inorder
to be alive and
breathe in this
too narrow space
confined for
only just the two of us,

as they watch
in suspense as
though we are
the actors of
this new film
with no ending
still

we shall kiss
now, to please them
kiss me on my lips
hold me tight
let them not notice
our trembling hands