For Better, For (Much, Much) Worse
For Richer, For (In Every Aspect) Poorer
After waiting years
At last, they had found themselves
In each others' arms
...
Exchanging their vows
They had both made promises
For Better. For Worse.
...
In the Beginning
Better days were abundant
Worse days were hiccups
...
Sure, they had sour days
A few ashes in their mouths
Yet, life was still sweet
...
Sure, they could thank Youth
Later, they'd blame its absence
Then, they'd blame themselves
...
Things were clean and neat
They were always listening
They were attentive
...
"Were..." That's the main word.
"Was..." Descriptor of their past.
"Back then..." They promised.
...
...
Him
She never listens.
She thinks that she's always right.
She pisses me off.
...
She doesn't work at all.
She cries when we're arguing.
She spends all our cash.
...
I help clean the house.
She says I don't clean it right.
What else does she want?
...
...
Her
He's always angry.
He's always looking for fights.
He pisses me off.
...
He's always at work.
I'm not his personal whore.
He only wants sex.
...
He wants a divorce.
He used to want to have kids,
but he doesn't want me.
...
...
They tried therapy.
They also got counseling.
They didn't feel better.
...
They had vacations.
They escaped reality.
Yet, they were real.
...
Besides their luggage,
they brought their baggage with them.
Nothing was working.
...
One day, they argued.
Neighboring rooms could hear them.
Their anger poured out.
...
The heat of passion
began to overtake them.
They fought through their flesh.
...
Done out of anger,
done out of furious wrath,
none of it was love.
...
Their sheer frustration
that was boiling underneath
came to the surface.
...
That night, things were cooled.
Resentment was still present.
This was false treatment.
...
Yet, even false hope
is needed from time-to-time.
They needed that sign.
...
They thought things had changed.
They only snowballed further.
Life picked up on them.
...
He wanted children.
She wanted to have them too.
They tried many times.
...
...
Him
She only wants me
because she's ovulating.
I'm just a breeder.
...
She won't make love to
me unless she's trying to
make use of her eggs.
...
Sure, I want kids too.
I'd love to have kids with her.
She's not loving me.
...
She loves ideas
of having kids, but why can't
she love me right now?
...
She wants to love them.
She imagines loving them.
Yet, she won't love me.
...
She thinks of their needs.
Why won't she think of my needs.
Do I neglect her?
...
...
Her
Why won't he hold me?
I'm trying to grow new life.
Does he still want me?
...
He doesn't affirm me.
He refuses to cuddle.
It's like he's annoyed.
...
We both want children.
Why does he seem angrier?
He doesn't want to talk.
...
He was sensual.
He used to be romantic.
He's not loving me.
...
What am I too him?
I feel like I'm a heifer.
Am I being used?
...
He won't care for me.
It's like he's avoiding me.
Did I neglect him?
...
...
They tried, and they failed.
The miscarriages were tough.
There was too much stress.
...
Then, they had success.
Her belly grew over time.
Her stress became his.
...
They became nervous.
The baby was on its way.
Anxiety grew.
...
Her hormones kicked in.
However, they shared mood swings.
Their blood pressures rose.
...
Misery for nine
months went by. As the baby
grew with their loathing.
...
In the cold of March,
late one night her water broke.
They rushed to safety.
...
She had squeezed his hand
while being in labor for
an eternity.
...
She pushed and she pushed,
until finally she crowned.
The baby slid out.
...
Relieved it was done,
they did not understand that
there was more to come.
...
Late nights with diapers.
Teething rings and sore nipples.
Incessant screaming.
...
Their needs were replaced.
Someone more vulnerable
needed them right now.
...
Days soon became weeks.
Weeks too had turned into months,
and months became years.
...
Their baby grew up.
An infant to a toddler
Crawling to running
...
One kid became two.
Two children had become three.
They outnumbered them.
...
Their convertible
soon became a mini-van.
They sold their condo.
...
They needed more space
So, they had to buy a house,
but what about school?
...
Him
First I work all day.
When I get home I work too.
There's no relaxing.
...
I have tasks at work.
Then I have chores once I'm home.
Where does the time go?
...
Sure, we have three kids.
I don't get to play with them
since I earn the bread.
...
I'm the 'bad parent.'
I have to enforce the rules,
like brushing their teeth.
...
Now, she stays at home.
Taking care to raise them up.
I miss everything.
...
I slave away here.
I'm kept from my family.
Forced to keep working.
...
...
Her
Bleeding, Aching, Sore
I loved my husband's, but now
I dread my children's
...
I'm always touched out
Grubby little hands all day
then two more at night
...
Is my body mine?
Am I just real estate?
Never for myself?
...
I feel stuck at home.
I have no life of my own.
Surrounded by kids.
...
'Mommy' this or that.
I used to have a full name.
Now, I'm just a 'mom.'
...
He goes off to work
interacting with adults
leaving me at home.
...
...
Private or public?
They'd still have to pay taxes.
Plus, the kids had grown.
...
They needed more cash.
They went on a strict budget.
They saved and couponed.
...
She went back to work.
She returned to her career.
The kids went to school.
...
They had to take turns.
Picking up and dropping off,
groceries, cleaning.
...
Soon, the kids had sports.
Weekends had become Week-Works.
Swimming, Soccer, Track
...
Baseball and football
Instrument lessons came too
Parent-Teacher Nights
...
They had no date nights.
Lowe's soon became romantic.
They had "dating trips."
...
They kissed at Walmart.
Were hand-holding at Target.
They danced at Macy's.
...
They were all apart
for most of the day. At night
they searched for their spark.
...
They had small bad things.
They also had small good things
to be thankful for.
...
On the couch one night
They both looked at each other.
"For better. For worse."
...
Fin
About the Creator
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Comments (8)
Wonderful story, I was surprised with the happy ending, I really expected they would divorce but the ending worked for me.
You know, I've never been a fan of marriage or kids before this. And your poem convinced me even more, lol! I'm glad they got a happy ending though. I loved your poem!
Wow! This was so full of rawness, honesty, and emotion; brought tears to my eyes 🥹 Well done, Thavien!
Spot on! 🥰
This was an inspiring journey through the turbulence of marriage. :). Nice work!
I felt their story. Beautifully done!
This is so well done, and holds a lot of truth.
Ah, so many bits and pieces of that rang true. Awesome job making that flow with the haiku constraints. Well done!!