a sonnet for Rebecca Mali

Tonight I found out that I am divorced.
My second try at marriage, and it’s through.
Relief is what I feel most, mixed with pain, of course,
remorse, and just plain grief, which makes me think of you,

you who knew such sorrow in your life,
and all the ways that love in marriage fails,
who was the first to call yourself my wife
(with all the joyous burdens that entails).

And though I miss you hard tonight, old friend,
that’s not the only reason that I cry.
Rather, I know a marriage now can end
and there’s no need for anyone to die.

Lover, at last, please leave me, after all these years,
leave me to my grateful broken heart, and leave me to these tears.