The Marriage Bond

You're kneeling there with paint-flecked hair

to worship at a baseboard altar

with the brush dripping white

and a sweat ring for a halo.

And it's no matter if the roller spatters

my arms with junk from the ceiling

and my shoulders ache while my hands cramp

and we've been at this an hour too long.

For Someone Else shares the room with us,

this apartment, this  unlikely temple,

while angels keep the children at home

and we're breathless and trying to finish.

There's a sacred merging, our prayers urging

the Lord of our perspiration,

and a sensual encounter, not sexy,

     but not sexless -

your curves can't be hid by exhaustion.

And the Spirit preaches to our togetherness,

"A marriage is made by moments like this,"

and I have to chuckle - it's true,

what a crazy way to make love.


Garry D. Nation, 2025

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