A real-life fairy tale

Once upon a time, I say

not long ago nor yesterday

nor far away from this place

you and I came face-to-face.

From first sight to falling hard

rising trust and falling guard

so little time did pass

when for my hand you did ask.

Our love was young, as were we,

they thought, ’this can never be.

‘How will he take care of you?’

They said, ‘you’ll soon say adieu!’

I did not think ’fore I replied

(I possibly even sighed)

’There is no taking care of who

care for each other will we two.’

I held your hand tight in mine

you held my heart, called me thine

I got lost in your eyes

for us, there would be no goodbyes.

I whispered, ’my prince charming, thee

life-long my love for you will be

all the days of my life, it’s true

will my love endure for you.

’I had loved you before we met

and will continue, don’t forget

when your skin is wrinkled and gray

and youth is gone and far away

’even then will you still be

the most beautiful man to me.’

We shared a kiss or two that day

and thus we lived until today.

Time has passed as it is wont to do

happily ever after, we two

living what fairy tales never show

after the fairy a wish does bestow.

We have had many dramas to transcend

in life that follows the Kiss and The End.

Much evil to vanquish lest our love fall apart

and suffer and die and wither my heart.

We have slain dragons of society

that filled us with anxiety;

religion, ethnicity and race

were among the challenges we did face.

We have overcome trolls, whose ugly souls

sought to steal the beauty that made us whole

goblins who mischievously sought to steal

the magic that made our love real.

We withstood, every trial, every test we faced

with the only spell we knew, our ace:

Love. Together we have repaired each tear

in the tapestry of the life we share.

And now this.

An evil elf cast a spell upon you

the tremors of age it’s you they pursue

slowing your gait years too soon,

though of aging none is immune -

You have witnessed barely half a century.

But from this spell you can never be free.

Too soon you feel like you are losing you

the years you’ve lived feel like far too few.

But know this my love with whom I never

dared to dream happily ever after:

The body will change, will fail, as bodies do

but we are enchanted, our love is, too.

Our love is magic and only grows more dear,

deeper, more precious as forever draws near.

’I am here with you all of the days of my life

forever and a day, I am your wife.

'You are my happily ever after.’