Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Renewing the Vows




©1996 by Susan Noyes Anderson, Poetpourri

I almost divorced my body
a couple of years ago.
Certainly, we were separated.
Irreconcilable differences.
Growing in different directions.
It, wider and older.
I, wiser and bolder.
(there was no consensus on this)
We got down to dividing
community property
and hit a snag.
Several, actually.
Limbs, lungs, kidneys,
ovaries, breasts––
Matched sets, all of them.
Not recommended for removal.
To be separated only in case
of medical emergency.
So we worked it out.
Cut each other some slack.
Rebonded. Rebounded.
Reached an understanding.
Made a commitment.

I take this body.
To have and to hold.
From this day forward.
As long as we both shall
Live.

It’s not perfect, but
consider the alternative.

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18 comments:

jen said...

As I sit here icing my knees after 35 minutes on the bike, I have a greater appreciation of where this body is going.
And I'll keep you honest on the sugar wagon if you help me!
Hope your vacation was fun.

Jenny said...

Darn, that was good, Sue!

Caroline said...

I loved this! You are so talented!

Myrna Foster said...

You had me at the first line. Thanks for sharing this one, Sue! I really enjoyed it.

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

LOL, that was awesome Sue!!

Jess said...

I'm really glad for a functional body, and for pt- even when it is tortuous. I will say though the Schroeder probably won't have that problem as he is well on his way to becoming a bionic man- with 6 orthopedic surgeries in 8 years I think he's in the running

Anonymous said...

Oh my. That was sheer brilliance.

Darlene said...

Tonight I am feeling every bone, muscle and joint, and not in a good way. My brain just doesn't want to agree with my body. At any rate, it was great fun to have you all here and I have almost a whole week to recover before I have to have another try at an implant that will take. Already I am looking forward to next year and hoping it will be as successful. It seems amazing to me that at 9:30 this morning you were here and shortly after 5:00 tonight you were calling to say you were home. Now you just seem too darned far away. Needless to say, we loved having you here..

Loved the poem too. I think too many of us can relate!

karen said...

That's a good one! I've had to do a little more compromising with my body than I would have liked over the past few years. Its hard to remember that not so long ago I could do whatever I wanted to do physically. Not so anymore - but there are still many things I can do, and I try to be happy with that. I do miss riding horses though...
On a more cheery note: did you have a nice birthday? Was the vacation a good one? Mom sounds sad that you're gone. I feel a little lost when my kids leave after a visit too.

Snarky Belle said...

Love, love, love it!

Hope your birthday was terrific!! Hope you were treated like the queen I know you are! ;) Jared left this morning, so I've been a little distracted. Sorry I'm a day late.

Karen Mortensen said...

Very cute. Thanks for the smile.

Amy said...

that is so great! Really. You are so funny!

Robin said...

I'm feeling this one.

Natalie said...

Oh wow this is fantastic! I can really relate to this! So well put.

alpinekleins said...

Well . . . when you put it that way . . .


:) Kristin

brudberg said...

What an excellent reconciliation... and yes the alternative is one more chilling.

Susan said...

"It, wider and older.
I, wiser and bolder."
Very wonderful marriage. It is said that opposites attract each other, but there are limits--unless it comes to the self!

Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

Makes me smile – for many reasons!