Friday, April 16, 2010

If No One Ever Marries Me



If no one ever marries me --
And I don't see why they should,
For nurse says I'm not pretty,
And I'm seldom very good --

If no one ever marries me
I shan't mind very much,
I shall buy a squirrel in a cage
And a little rabbit-hutch;

I shall have a cottage near a wood,
And a pony all my own,
And a little lamb, quite clean and tame,
That I can take to town.

And when I'm getting really old --
At twenty-eight or nine --
I shall buy a little orphan-girl
And bring her up as mine.

by Lawrence Alma-Tadema

Friday, March 19, 2010

Wise words for a Wedding

Megs insists I post this. So, here goes. This was written for a scrap book that went around during a wedding in the family:

As you begin your new "happy married life"
Here is some (perhaps unsolicited?) advice
Even though you're always 'husband and wife'
To each other, say 'Please', 'Thank you' - BE NICE!
In each other's face, space, all the time
Magnifies flaws, issues in your sights
But do not argue for no reason or rhyme-
Only if it's important - PICK YOUR FIGHTS!
There will be pleasure, there will be pain
And all things emotional in this range
Getting married is like being born again
Be very prepared - BE READY TO CHANGE!
It feels new now, beautiful, holds you in thrall
But over time you may tire, get bored, be spent
It takes work to make it work in the long haul
You'll need to REFRESH, REJUVENATE, REINVENT!
Be close, be near to your loved one's heart
But keep some space, SOMETIMES LET GO
"For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow*"
*with apologies to Khalil Gibran