Everything is disappointing

Everyone disappoints

Fall in love with me

I will disappoint you

Like you will me.

 

It’s factored in the leaving

Everything leaves through

Theft or damage or familiarity

The glow of ownership

Pride of possession

Will gutter and dim

 

Everything is tinged with disappointment

This we know

But pretend we don’t

We arm in arm a brand new wife

She’s not a virgin but we tell ourselves she is.

 

Arm in arm a husband

He has his ‘little problem’

But we can change him – only we can’t

 

Everyone disappoints.

 

Each morning we wake

Wondering if the magic still remains

Is she still as beautiful

As when I pictured her - pictured us

Imagined us?

 

Is he still the noble fire fighter

I wanted him to be?

In wine stained vest and hangover

He’ll look for a job tomorrow.

 

I wish he’d fix the kids’ swing in the garden

Like he promised

 

They never keep their promises

Except that they’ll never leave us nor forsake us

 

Everyone disappoints.