Some Sort Of Protocol Poem by Margaret Alice

As I came down the aisle and you told me
I looked beautiful – three times in all -
I thought it was some sort of protocol

Later at work I asked my colleagues about
it – There is no such thing – they sourly
replied; only then did I realize

You really meant what you said; only afterwards
did the glow of joy shine in my eyes – I missed
out by not realizing how special the gesture

You were making at the time – it seems that
all of life’s important events derive their true
meaning only in retrospect

When I’ve been angry with you about some slight
or show of insolence, I remember your compliments
realizing that problems are not that important

Within the broader context of life; the love we share
weighs more than all our differences – the universe
is powerful enough to meet the needs

Of each, without short-changing another; though I
grumble and explode from time to time – while you
explode more frequently – those special words

Built an invisible bridge that spans the human
divide and always enable us to cross back and
forth between anger and love, without

Falling into an abyss of lies and deception, hate
and rejection – with you as companion, I’m
willing to take on the devil himself!