Annulment (Poetry)

I dreamt I was a Bride of Christ
awaiting on her wedding night
the coming of her lord and king
to make her his — a husband’s right

to consummate in terms of flesh
those solemn vows devoutly made
so with a scented candle lit
anticipating love, I prayed

but no one came into my cell.
Outside the winds grew loud and strong
and voices whispered in my head
that I’d been foolish all along...

I was not beautiful or young
and far from pure — so why would he
with all the world to choose from — go
and pick someone as plain as me?

Thus disillusioned, I broke free —
divorced that image and erased
every thought I ever had
about him. Chastened, I retraced

my footsteps to a godless world
with all its ugliness and strife
my soul my own — no one to serve
to live a more authentic life.