Like a dog with a chew toy
is winter in March.
Silence and contentment
punctuated by flurries of fury.

Our backs hold stories
Not even the spine
On a book can handle

Is It Fair?
© Bill MacDonald 3/5/2020

Is it fair to expect his wife to act in a mothering way,
Even when you don’t want her to replace your mother?

Is it fair to expect her to show some concern like Mum would,
When you don’t want her to be a usurper of the affections Mum gave?

Is it fair to expect his wife to connect with our shared knowledge and love
When she’s only known us in fits and spurts, a little at a time?

Is it fair to expect that she’ll want to know us like she wants to know him,
When he’s the one she’s marrying, and we’re all grown up?

Is it fair for her to expect that we’ll all stay away,
When we’re used to seeing him whenever we want, because he’s our Dad?

Is it fair for her to say that we aren’t sincere,
Even though we’re trying to know her and accept her as she’s asked?

Is it fair for her to speak glowingly of her side of the family but not his,
And to be surprised when we feel slighted by that?

Since when is life fair? Since when is life perfect?
Since when do human relationships work without pain or conflict?

Is it fair that we expect one another to act according to our standards,
But we fail to live up to those very standards ourselves?

Is it fair?