You wonder how
she keeps going about her day
when the world is crumbling
but she just smiles and reaches across
to wipe the crumbs away
from the side of your mouth

You wonder where
she finds the abundant store
of resilience and positivity
from which she daily draws
whilst your reservoir runs dry
scorched by a world that’s on fire

You wonder why
persistently passionate
she never forgets to kiss your cheek
or to straighten your tie;
why she rinses and recycles:
tote bags against a plastic tide

You wonder what
it is that sparked the light
in her to life, for life
what makes her want to be
Your wife; what you’d do without her
in your life

You wonder when
she learned to embrace her strength
that she should not be weakened by
comparisons to the supposed accomplishments of men
when everything she overcomes
they can hardly begin to comprehend

In response to prompt three: music from la la land (arranged for two cellos)
Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash