Safe Rage

Safe Rage
by Gideon Burton

Be angry, find and spill your blackest bile.
Complain as though I wished you were more shrill.
Burst into tears and beat my chest at will.
Condemn, accuse, while shouting all the while.
The storm will thunder, then its winds will pass
You and I will still be lashed together.
Best lovers love who weather every weather.
And I am ready: let your lightning crash.
I do not need a reason for your rage--
the world is thick enough to vex the best.
And as emotion rises to its crest
Return and act your Oscar on this stage.
     Our marriage is your harbor, refuge, port
     where we will turn each tragedy to sport.

Photo: flickr - incubos (adapted)

Good Chemistry

After hearing today about some friends divorcing, I felt another one of those waves of gratitude for having a sound marriage. Thanks, Karen.

Good Chemistry
by Gideon Burton

They see you need some chemistry; as though
cologne adds zesty charm when on a date.
That's not the sort required in a mate,
not spritzer pepping up a rosy glow.
Ammonia for starters, so the flow
of ever-fresh forgiveness won't abate.
Plus milder solvents, suds to soften late
apologies, or balm to soften blows.
The chemistry is deeper, though, below
the skin and tissue, in the blood and bone,
the neurons trained to feel and to forgive.
Our bond is not with words; it's something stowed
in genes, the primal code. Our love is sewn
like atoms stitched to structure all that lives.

Trust

Trust

by Gideon Burton

I met a man who told me once that he

had met his highest aspirations. All

he'd ever wanted he achieved. To see

the dimness in his eyes, I knew some fall

some tragedy had undercut the joy

he should have had in his accomplishments.

I hoped my asking him would not annoy,

attempting just a modest blandishment.

Confessing quietly, he said he'd lost

the trust of someone dear through some betrayal,

and nothing he had won was worth that cost,

despite appearances in his portrayal.

     All things to lose and yet keep sacred trust:

     a treasure that's immune to thieves or rust.

Photo: flickr - Auzigog

Learning Love

Learning Love
by Gideon Burton

In time our children come to re-create us;
their lives, a nearby echo of our own.
We measure how we are within their status,
less certain who we are when they leave home.
In time our children walk without our aid;
they speak and learn and earn without us there.
A son becomes a groom and courts a maid;
We count the years and, speechless, dumbly stare.
My father told me once I'd never know
of love until I held my newborn child.
My newly-wedded child has made the flow
of love redouble: something tame and wild,
both old and new, both hot and breezy cool.
He'll start to know, now he is off to school.

Mystery, Miracle, Marriage

It's my wife's birthday today, and I've been listening steadily to all of her music, especially that nice rendition of Francis Cabrel's moody "C'etait L'hiver" that she put together yesterday, patiently learning the French pronunciation (as she'd done with the Portuguese version of Girl from Ipanema awhile back), and doing take after take until she was happy with the mix. This woman is incredible, pumping out weekly tunes for music Mondays and doing her own sound production, while keeping up a thoughtful daily blog, caring carefully for four sons, and being a steady companion to me. I'm blessed to know her, and intend to know her better.

Mystery, Miracle, Marriage

by Gideon Burton

The more that you reveal through image, thought,

and through your honey-alto-angel voice,

the more your mysteries compound. I'm caught

in awe, in gratitude we made the choice

to hand-in-hand the lengths of twisting time,

to share the casual miracles that come

when man and woman choose to rhyme,

despite what jolts and jarrings have undone.

I kneel, I find you kneeling next to me.

We interlace our worries and our tears.

I stand, I find you standing next to me.

We alternate who comforts and who cheers.

     Of what's to come, I haven't any clue,

     But I can trust the peace I know with you.

Feel free to copy, imitate, remix, or redistribute this poem as long as you give proper acknowledgment of authorship.