Bride Price

I don't know why

But I thought, maybe, there would be a second honeymoon phase

One to kind of replace the one she stole

With her washy-wishing

I thought when I was a new wife,

I would be allowed the afterglow

And I thought maybe with a hand to hold,

A heart bound to mine, there would be kind

Words, heard at start and end of day and sometimes

Along the way.

All my life I've been taught self-sacrifice, but it doesn't feel nice

To put all my being aside, to swallow my pride, to shrink

Or mute, or hide...in favor of what will please another.

I just wanted to be a bride.