The following was inspired by a conversation with a niece while discussing the question in the title. It doesn’t suggest an answer, it merely re-frames the question.
Couples hand-in-handing through the park
Skipping stones across eternity’s pond
Living in a world built for two.
True love their gentle chain
Mutually sought and mutually borne
Souls linked forever along life’s path.
Unbendable, unshakeable, immutable
Until that day, that never expected day,
When vision either clouds or clears.
One looks at the other with new eyes
And sees a stranger standing there
And wonders who this might be.
Suddenly the velvet chain is gone,
Their eternity has drawn to a close.
One may still feel but the bond is broken
And love has flown to wherever love goes
When minds change, hearts break
And forever becomes a lie.
An excerpt from my book, “A Mixed Bag.”
Rick Fontes
rixlibris 
this is really such a cool writing.. share it Rixlibris..
Sherri
Thanks for your kind words. I truly appreciate them.
The past two Sundays I have posted excerpts from my book, “A Mixed Bag.” on Jason Cushman’s site. The week prior it was a selection titled “My Private Ballerina”. I also featured the book as a Goodreads giveaway, 10 copies, and it is available on Amazon (blatant commercial plug). If Jason does the open blog invitation again tomorrow I intend to post another.
Reblogged this on Above The Crowd Shopping, Sherri Of Palm Springs.
Thank you so much for the reblog. That is quite a compliment.
Thank you for the reblog. I am very happy that you found it worthy of note.
I just came across your blog thanks to your book promotion on Jason’s site. Your poetry is beautiful and refreshing.
Thank you for your very kind words.
Page 42 and it has a bookmark there. I love this piece, read it every now and then again and ponder about where it might go… maybe it moves on? Finds a new couple? Someone to stick to forever?
Thanks. This selection triggered a later discussion on where does marriage go when it is annulled by the church. The quick answer is that in an annulment the marriage “never existed” but what of the memories, the good times spent together, the kids, maybe even the remnants of a mortgage and most especially, the dreams that were mutually shared early on. So much stuff has to disappear when “forever becomes a lie.”
Very true… Some things will never disappear. Like memories and hopefully kids… so you can never really make it undone.
Maybe Henry number 8 was right, simply “divorce” the Pope and start a religion of your own.