Vows Unbroken

by Todd Matson

Same dishevelled couple

walking the avenue

for better, for worse,

braving the elements

under the blazing sun,

in the freezing rain;

icicles on their hoodies,

soiled and ragged

from head to toe,

hunched and hobbling,

in sickness and in health,

no place to call home,

all their possessions

strapped to their backs,

cross around his neck,

rosary around her wrist,

breaking bread with

sparrows they call angels,

feeding each other

the leftover crumbs,

for richer, for poorer,

pushing an old stroller

containing a goldfish

because everyone needs

someone to love

and to cherish,

and here we stand

fighting about money,

when what we vowed

to have and to hold

was one another.

How can those who

have so much less

have so much more?

Do you remember

when we had less,

yet everything

we dreamed of

when I said I do

and you said I do too?

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Todd Matson is a licensed marriage and family therapist in North Carolina, United States. His poetry has been published in The Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Salvation South, Soul-Lit, The Clayjar Review, Agape Review, Redrosethorns, San Antonio Review, The Brussels Review, The Shallot and Mobius: The Journal of Social Change; and his short stories have been published in Ariel Chart International Literary Journal; Faith, Hope and Fiction; Agape Review and The Piker Press. He has also written lyrics for songs recorded by several contemporary Christian music artists, including Brent Lamb, Connie Scott and The Gaither Vocal Band.