Wedded Duress

Marriage vows

Real life fairy tales
played out daily
all over the world

Such a pretty litany
of lovely promises

Rose petals
paving the way
to eternity

We all know the reality

Statistical history
that measures
prior nuptial disasters 
will fully quantify
the wreckage
of happily ever afters

In spite of the odds

they line up anyway

to take that leap of faith 

chanting the ancient liturgy

hopeful that their words

do not fly off

like a mocking bird