The Perfectionist Wife

by Cheryl Merrick

Filled with anxious concerns
each day I queried,
"Have you read the scriptures?
"Did you pray today?"
My husband's terse, annoyed reply of, "No",
Escalated my fears.
"Would we be a forever family?"
My attempts at subtle encouragement
failing miserably,
I anguished over my husbands "failings".
Sure that our children would be corrupted
by their father's deficient example,
I despaired.

Should

by Cheryl Merrick

He “should . . .”,
She “should . . .”

We clumsily navigate through marriage
entangled in our fantasies
like ribbons gone mad
tripping our feet and
hindering our progression.

Instead of enjoying each other
for who we are,
we fret and somehow feel cheated.
Our mate “should” be more perfect.

New Gardeners

by Cheryl Merrick

I long for them to always nurture their love,
so that they might avoid years of neglect,
and drought of faith & affection,
May they never allow cares and concerns,
like flourishing weeds
to crowd out their relationship.
And may they always find joy in their garden.

Lack of Faith

by Cheryl Merrick

She, needing understanding,
wants him to listen.
He, desiring to help her,
offers solutions.

Feeling rejected,
the wife no longer
shares her feelings.
Rebuffed, the husband
turns more and more
to his own interests.

Ever After

by Cheryl Merrick

They meet.
A spark ignites into flame
    as they see in each other
the fulfillment
    of their hopes for happiness.

Their vision misted by dreams,
    they happily dance
    toward the altar.
A stumble or two later,
     we smile as they exchange vows
     enveloped in crescendoing music
     and embraced by a pink sunset.

Pictures of a Marriage

by Cheryl Merrick
Young and beautiful,
     though I didn’t appreciate it then,
I see myself leaning on
     my youthful husband’s shoulder
as, together, 
     we bravely face the unknown.

Smiling I muse,
     the challenges 
     of thirty two years ago
     now seem so simple.