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The Sad Death Of A Marriage: A Poem

The Death Of A Ten Year Old Marriage
It didn’t come as a complete surprise,
He had been expecting this to happen for a while,
But, like the Ostrich with his head in the sand,
He chose not to believe this could happening to him for the second time.
Now, she said the time had come,
To go their separate ways,
She said she needed some space to find herself,
She told him she didn’t love him anymore.
And so, with a heavy heart, and his mind in a daze,
He began to gather up all his belongings in the house they had shared,
It had been 10 years since they exchanged their vows,
The past 5 years their lives had been drifting further and further apart.
He took all his jeans and tee shirts from the double chest of drawers,
He folded them all and put them in a cardboard box.
The underwear drawer came next to do; then the shoes,
Then he carefully took out the hanging clothes from the walk in closet they shared.
He looked through the pots and pans, and took out just a few,
He got his odds and ends from the kitchen junk drawer,
The next stop was the bathroom medicine chest,
Where he took out his medications, his shaving gear and soap.
He took his power tools from the backyard shed,
He would leave her the lawn mower and hedge trimmers,
He thought of the lawn they both had worked so hard in,
He had no need for those things where he was going.
He disassembled the side by side desk they had built,
He disconnected his computer and phone from their stations,
He took down his grown children’s framed photos,
From the Living Room shelves and left just her family photos there.
His books and music were the next to be packed,
She had never had any interest in his taste at all,
She called him a hill billy because he liked country music,
Her choice was classical music which he never understood.
They both knew from the beginning their interests were different,
Now they know the other person is not going to change,
She liked to socialize, dress up and party, and go out to dinner,
He preferred quiet evenings at home dressed only in his shorts.
He will give her the space that she says she needs,
Maybe she’ll be happier without him in her life,
But he knows he will miss her, and will always love her,
He feels his heart breaking as he drives away.
Have you ever had a broken heart?
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Comments
A beautiful poem. It is sad but so many relationships suffer in this way.
This has happened to a few of my friends now.
You captured the pain and stagnation really well.
At the end you say how he does still love her, that is probably the case a lot of the time with one partner or another.
A sad reality and you captured it perfectly.
Oh Mary this broke my heart...it is bad enough when both people want out but when its only one and the other one is hurting so...you certainly mastered this one!
Voted up, awesome, and interesting.
How sad.
My wife moved out of our place several months ago, leaving with me the dog she had wanted. I moved out several weeks later and am now staying with relatives more than 100 miles away. She too said she needed "space". We too were different and she believed I would change. Now what?
Breaking up, one of the saddest thing to do. You've capture the heart ache and pain so brilliantly.
Well done.
So weird that while reading this I am listening to Elvis- "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" (:
Ten years! It wasn't a joke and it's indeed sad that it has to end. Must have been hard for both to stay and try to save the marriage but one must do what's best to keep a much healthier and happier life.
Not a delightful situation but definitely a good read from you. Thanks.
Only yesterday I heard the sad news of another split from a friend. You've captured the tragedy and the turmoil beautifully here Mary. There is so much sadness in the break up of a long union especially when the roots are intertwined .... beautiful!
Wow, Mary such a sad poem and I couldn't help feel bad for the man throughout the poem and especially at the end. I would think it would be hard leaving someone and something behind even if you knew deep down it was for the right reasons, especially if you still loved this person. Nice job conveying that point here and have of course voted up, shared and tweeted too.
Difficult when marriages break up over irreconcilable differences. It's even more heartbreaking than if it is over a third party because it's harder to admit making the wrong choice for that reason, at least it to me. Thanks Mary, you've given me a lot to think about!
Mary615 you hit a nail. Voted up and all the rest...except for funny. Blesses!
Made me teary eyed mary. It's really a sad story about a long time marriage breaking up. I guess in every relationship, it's the love that keeps them together. Once its gone, the relationship ends. Wonderful poetry! Voted Up!
Many of us have experienced this kind of thing, some even after longer than ten years. It is not an easy thing to deal with. You capture the emptiness, sadness of packing it all in.
Tony Bennett has a beautiful ballad about it called "Where Do You Start?" Great sad song.
This seems so real. Great hub. Our Lord'a Loving Heart To You Forever, And To Your Family . GBY.
Great poetry. It is a very difficult time for couples who go through break ups.
It is always sad when a marriage ends, and I have sadly witnessed the demise of several this past year. Reading your poem, I imagined my poor 30-year old cousin, starting out life and making plans for the future, when his wife of less than a year announced that marriage was not for her. He moved out, and I hope that his heart will start to heal soon too.
Such a sad thing to read about a marriage breaking up. I felt so, for the man who was digging in his heels. I hope both parties will find peace during this tough time.
Dear mary,
This is written from the heart, obvious how you care for your friends. A sad situation indeed, seems to be increasing in today's world. I'm sure your support is appreciated.
Voted UP & Awesome- have a peaceful night, mar.
Hi Mary,
You have done a wonderful job in describing the death of a marriage.
I have never been married but I would not want to be in either position to have to tell my husband that I don't love him anymore or hear that he doesn't love me.
Voted up and awesome
Have a good day.
THis hub rings so true for so many. I wonder if it's harder for the man or the woman to leave but most of the time we hear of the man leaving.
You captured so well the sadness of the break-up of a marriage after ten years, Mary. What may be even sadder is when a couple grows apart but neither leaves.
Very sad mary615. Just stopped by to wish you a Merry Christmas
I am always saddened when a marriage falls apart. It is so easy these days to walk away with a broken heart. I wish things were so different for this couple. Thank you for your compassionate and loving heart Mary.
I wonder if she thought...one less egg to fry? Or will she figure out why she uses poor souls when she needs them and cast them aside when done. You worded this well. Up and interesting.
Most excellently written for a "single divorce". Probably a good thing I didn't try writing all that much for the totality of my six.
Voted Up and Awesome.
Great poem mary615. You captured the feeling of breaking up and the details of separating what is mine and what is hers/his.
@mary615 beautiful poem, someday even I wanna write poems like this for I have tons to say but can't really get the rhymes or the words... :(
I am so sad... I want to cry....I have been there and done that.. It is awful.. Your poem is awesome..
Merry Christmas
Ugh! I will never forget that day! I left first, left the house, the pool, the dog :( , the swing set and him! Looking back that was a difficult day to say the least, yet for the first time in my life, I put myself first! Nicely written!
A sad wonderful poem, voted up and awesome.
how many times has this happened in our lives...but it never gets easier. nice work! vote up
Such a sad, but beautifully written poem that will have the ring of truth for many people who have experienced the break-up of a marriage.
You did a great job on this poem.
Your words evoked sadness yet knowing what must be done and doing it. Great poem.
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