|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
13thWR
PRESCRIPTION FOR MARRYING-UP
If one would marry up, one must be willing to strike a deal.
The soul, of course, is the obvious trade.
Glide around your parlor of people and fill in
their blanks, round them out.
Your voice at first may strike wrong chords
but in time will become melodious.
Are you willing to discard all parts deemed unacceptable?
Surgically remove excess emotion and delight at family events.
Lance tears at parting, excise love of cats,
dislocate yourself from those not up to par.
Exuberance definitely must be extracted.
Anesthesia is recommended until tolerance develops.
Inject aloofness into your smile to staunch
blood or tears. Valium helps you forget
that mistletoe is anything other than one more party detail.
Do not ask the nurse to hold your hand,
for touch, my dear, is reserved for when you must fix an earring,
straighten a knife on a napkin, tuck in a strap.
Drum your fingers if you must, but under the table.
Once you have sustained this rhythm,
increase the tempo. Waltz into a room
bearing baby boys, bronzed breasts, a cocktail or two.
Smile, as you beat it into your head
that this is not a life, but a role.
Place your right foot on the damper pedal.
The tone drones, fades, disappears.
This is always the case.
- Rachel Squires Bloom