a poem for my wife on our 12th anniversary

12 years



Nothing rhymes with 12 years,
Nothing I know of, at least
So I’m trying to think of 12 years,
What has been the best?

As I keep thinking of 12 years,
A number of things come to mind
12 years, 12 years, 12 years,
It’s not that hard to find

One thing over 12 years,
We’ve had a kid or two, or three
Another thing over 12 years,
I’ve done all my moving with thee

A third thing over 12 years,
I’ve learned to smile more
A fourth thing over 12 years,
I really do snore

The fifth thing over 12 years,
We’ve joined two churches
A sixth thing over 12 years,
We’ve lived in four perches

A seventh thing over 12 years,
We’re still learning how to dance
The eighth thing over 12 years,
We’re still learning how to dance

The ninth thing over 12 years,
I like the way you cook,
The tenth thing over 12 years,
We’ve visited places in books

An eleventh thing over 12 years,
I’m gladder I married you,
And twelfth thing over 12 years,
I love you (more than giant, hurtling asteroids that are bigger than all the snickers bars ever consumed, and oceans of milk to make them go down easier, and the band-aids needed if those giant, hurtling asteroids hit earth, and bigger than any blisters we’d get trying to run away from both asteroids hitting earth and all those snickers bars that would probably topple down because of the laws of physics, being gravity, I’m talking about, of course, so my point is that I love you lots and lots and lots and lots and lots…etc. but do not add nausea