My world is full of fearless girls who fought
Against the world to marry their true love
And lost.
              A few stayed single, rose above
Their grief without an angry, bitter thought
And filled their hearts with books and friends and tea.
But some, by parents, yoked to unknown men,
Resigned to life and smiled just now and then.
Yet others met a stranger destiny —
A stranger husband, then pure domestic bliss:
Roses, letters, caresses, movie dates.
The rest await, refusing assigned fates —
For one more chance at love's elusive kiss.

We say that life deprived of love is death.
We’re wrong. What life requires is hope and breath.