A Making a Marriage Work Poem

But where are the instructions?

After the wedding, there are no instructions on how to make a marriage work, how to love each other, and navigate the differences

There are no instructions on how to balance a personal life with a growing family, dividing responsibilities, and making homelife happy

There are no instructions on how to stay married, how to meet each other’s needs, lighten the emotional baggage, and cope with meddling in-laws

There are no instructions on how to deal with a colicky baby, where the child should sleep, or if it’s wiser to use a formula or breastfeed

Of course, there are plenty of books, advice from doctors, friends, and family who only seem to say without certainty: Marriage depends on blind faith, humor, and maturity to get through trying times like these.

Many thanks to Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她) for her prompt on “better instructions.” An Innovative Idea.

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Here’s another poem by Mark Tulin:

Cravings and Needs

Prompt response: inner child wounds