An hour-old petal —
or a look she throws at me
rips apart too soon.
Graceful, slender, tall, and blonde –
in fancy clothes she was donned
enrolled in a pricey school
off to be a dancer as planned.
Twinkletoes chose tennis instead,
proved passion meant more than all.
As the breadwinner,
she supports the family.
Eclipses her dreams.
Trod on unnoticed,
the puny kids endure school
like sidewalk plants, small.
The moms were there and dads were too
best men glowed, bridesmaids glowered
they tilted heads and swelled with joy
as the coupling saw each other’s eyes
with bright exuberance and wild passion
exchanging bands with studded jewels.
Though an entire congregation witnessed,
none would’ve guessed how it all ended.