My parents didn’t seem to get along,
when I was young and watching them at first.
Their differences were daily loud, but strong
inhibitors annealed them so they cursed
in mumbles and apologized for bed.
They stuck together, struck agreement, screamed
and slammed some kitchen cabinets instead
of heads, so durable their marriage seemed.

But something happened when we children left.
Then Mom forsook her cigarettes and soon
she joined a gym with Dad. So unbereft
they made their nest a second honeymoon,
and blazed a path together, fond and fair,
at last a model of a worthy pair.