The Officer's Wife

 

My love is not extraordinary.

It won’t move mountains,

span the lonely depths of oceans,

 or endure lifetimes in the barren arctic tundra.

I cannot give you the colorful baubles of kingdoms past

or valleys of riches to lay at your feet, and,

though I love you,

it won’t allow my simple body to take flight

and fly over countries and wars

to where ever you are in the world.

 

My love for you is great, but it is not enough

to fetch the golden harvest moon, or catch you a bushel of glittering stars.

It is not enough to ward off the burden of old age and

I cannot protect you from the frigid whisper of

Death beckoning you into oblivion.

 

My love is simple.

It will give you soft kisses each night before bed

and wake up early to make you coffee before work.

My love will read bedtime stories to your children,

it will raise them to be just and silly and loving—

like tiny images of us when we were young.

 

My love is hard.

It will wait for you when you leave

to take part in your duty and honor.

My love will worry and sob on lonely nights without you,

but it will bravely wake each morning continue loving.

 

My love is slow moving and gentle,

Like the softly sloping humps of our backs when we age,

shuffling along, hand in hand, watching the sunset be taken

over by cloaking purple of night,

or the creaking of two wicker rocking chairs moving

in tandem on the porch.

 

My love is not extraordinary, nor great,

But it is real.

Reviews

[Corinne Jones]

I loved it. The sense of reality in this poem was palpable because it wasn't perfect, but it was real, which is what I loved about it. The imagery was particularly effective, as was the form. A great piece.

[Coyote Poetry]

A amazing poem. Woman who wait and love Soldiers must have good and strong heart. Your description was kind and beautiful. Poem was outstanding.
Coyote

[Orlando Murcia]

Very amazing form and well written
I enjoyed this, and yes love is real when it's real
whether it has it's flaws or not

Great work!!

Orlando M

[Patient Poet (Yos)]

I LOVE it, what a beautiful writting, real, powerful just what I like Thank you Yossi

[Serend1p1ty]

Such a stunning poem.
I find I say this alot about many poems, but yours truly takes my breath away.
The energy in the poem is so..smooth.
The way you describe the love you feel, how it affects you, it's just so amazing.
The love that is expressed here is one that anyone would be honoured to have.
The ending was given such a build up, that when it arrives, it just knocks you off your feet.
It sounds like I'm just blabbering on about how good your poem was, but I'm honest, it was just that good.
Such great work, keep it up.

Yours truly,
cloud6

[Saurin Corvinus]

I understand where your coming from I have many friends that are in the military and the loves they leave behind usually give up, but you are very strong and loving. Really great poetry, rhythm, imagery, and tone is very romantic and loving.