Sabrina Messenger

You made it this far without tying the knot
I've been through the rigors of an ugly divorce
No matter what the people say, our love is strong
We have the courage and strength to stay the course.
Although I've no wish or expectations to marry you
and you say that you've no desire to marry me
Some people make it their business to tell us anyway
that we are doing wrong, just because they disagree.
When people find out we're single but living together
They shake their heads and say shacking up is a sin
We look at them, shake our heads, and just shrug and grin.
Don't they know a soul doesn't need a license for love?
Because it's given to us for free from the One above!
We don't need to ask the church or state for consent
to give hugs or shower each other with kisses;
Because being loving and sensual persons
Is not the exclusive province of a Mr. and Mrs.
You don't need to dress up or throw a big reception,
gauging true love by a wedding is a matter of perception.
We don't need anyone's permission to promise forever
You just need to be willing to laugh and cry together
You don't need a fancy ceremony or a gold ring
You don't need to buy much of anything!
To cohabit, all you need is simply to trust and believe
To be honest and to never intentionally hurt or deceive
To live together well, you should be kind and always be fair
you need to have mutual respect, and a willingness to share
You should also be best friends and always show each other you care
So let the people think what they want of him and me
Our love don't need the sanction and approval of polite society
Let the politician try to buy votes with talk of family values on TV
while they live their private lives in all sorts of hypocrisy.
Their opinions and statistics don't lessen our esteem for one another
We shall continue to ignore them with all of their fret and bother
and remain most faithfully and happily Unmarried to each other.

Sabrina Messenger is a 45 year old poet/singer/songwriter who bankrolls her dreams as a receptionist/security officer. She and her man, Patrick, celebrated five years of committed friendship/partnership this past May 20. They live around the corner from each other in Corvallis, Oregon.