“Instruction Manual for My Future Husband” by Marissa Glover

Instruction Manual for My Future Husband

I was raised on Disney movies, the princess ones
that always end with a wedding. I don’t know
what comes next, but I’ve been told
it’s happily ever after. I’m expecting a prince
who can dance and ride a horse and is good
with a sword. You will disappoint me.

Even if you can dance and ride
a horse and are good with a sword.
Don’t despair. Life is full of disappointments.
Try as you might to slay dragons or ogres,
avoid the evil stepmother or wicked witch,
I will cry. You won’t know why.

You won’t be able to fix me. But you
should still try. I will resent you for trying.
I will tell you I’m not a blender or a car
or one of the kids’ toys you can patch up
over the weekend. But I’ll resent you
even more if you don’t try. So, try.

You can buy flowers. Or chocolate.
Or wine. All of these are nice, and none
of these will work. Vain attempts to scale
a mountain you know nothing about.
Terrain here is dangerous; one wrong step
and off the ledge you go to your death.

You’ll wonder if I am worth dying for,
and what your ex is up to these days.
You will be confused. You will try
to recall everything your mother ever
taught you. You’ll wish you had a magic
wand. You’ll want to give up. Don’t.

Don’t waste your energy trying to solve
the troll’s riddle so you can pass safely.
There’s no safe passage in love. Every
path is a snow bridge. Think of me
as a woman in pieces, a puzzle with no
picture on the box. Start with the edges.

Full-Length_Marissa+Glover.jpeg — Marissa glover

Marissa Glover teaches and writes in Florida, where she is co-editor of *Orange Blossom Review* and a senior editor at *The Lascaux Review*. Marissa’s work appears in *Rust + Moth,* *SWWIM Every Day*, *Okay Donkey*, and Whale Road Review, among other journals. Her full-length poetry collection, *LET GO OF THE HANDS YOU HOLD*, is forthcoming from Mercer University Press in April 2021. Follow Marissa on Twitter @_MarissaGlover_ .
Headshot: Benjamin Watters; photo editing by Stephanie Reed Photography

Photo Credit: Staff