Makarand Paranjape - Compatible Incompatibility

After all, what's the worst thing that I can say
About you and our marriage? It is this:
I don't love you - cannot, the way I want to love
A woman; and that we are incompatible, by nature
Utterly different from one another; finally,
That we'll never really be happy, together.
After having said the worst,
I immediately begin to feel better:
The only way now is up.
And I try to rationalize away my hurt;
We cannot live up to anyone else's standards
Of love, happiness, or compatibility.
It's best to leave these women's magazine issues,
And get on with our own lives,
Figuring out our own way.
Till we can agree, let's follow this simple rule:
You do what you like, I do what I;
And sometimes we can do it together.
Let us be true to each other
By being true to ourselves;
Let us find strength in our weakness.
Because, hey darling, don't you see
That as long as you can still hurt me,
I'll never be able to leave you.

[From The Serene Flame]

Makarand Paranjape

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/compatible-incompatibility/