If I Had Married Him

If I Had Married Him

If I had married him twenty years ago

I would have lived my life in a man’s shadow

The first half in my father’s

The second in my husband’s

We would have had two children

Perhaps three

The first born son would have been named after him

Had I married him

I would have been a military wife

Had I married him

I would be long gone

Long gone light years away

Far and away from The Bronx

From my people

From who I am

Long gone

Little metaphor to go on

Perhaps a sparkle of color

In a starry eyed hum drum trip to the mall

Loving my children for sure for sure and

Thinking of my life and what could have been

Had I not married him

And I would not be the woman I am

The poet you know

Who is yours

Had I married him.

© 2012 Mariposa María Teresa Fernández