Building a marriage is
timber over time,
the on purpose-ness
of candles on the table
on a run-of-the-mill
Saturday night
illuminating the daily
gift that says,
“I made something for you.”

It’s a pile of firewood
carried through the cold,
banked against the night’s chill.
Opera music, loud on the stereo
while dinner cools
and the shower runs.
It’s thoughtful intentions
stringing together all the todays,
prepared for all the tomorrows
when we can no longer
light the candles
carry the wood
or hear the music
but the love is still there
strong and tall as those
trees blowing outside
in the night.