Ever After



I picked this poem because it can relate to almost half of America. Divorce is everywhere, everyday, every hour. It's also caught my attention due to the fact that my parents are going through a divorce right now. The poem Ever After is soothing compared to a long dirty divorce. It's not negative but not positive. It's over looking the negatives trying to see the situation as neutral, and thats what makes it interesting. This emotions are not common like most human beings getting a divorce.

My favorite lines are "that was sinking into the tall white cake. All that sweetness, the layers of one thing" (Sutphen 92). While couples actually do this on their beautiful wedding day, the layers of the cake can symbolize everything that they have endured together as a couple such has the years spent together, the happiness, the bad times, just all the memories. How can any one let go so easily?

This poem really did make me think. Nothing that I hadn't already known, but just made me think more in depth. It's sad to say that divorces are normal or common, because they shouldn't be. When you think of marriage, you're suppose to think of positive outcomes, not divorce. Marriages are suppose to be til death do you part. Do vows not mean anything anymore?

Marriage is suppose to be a beautiful thing. My question is, Why are the divorcing? Was this discussed together as a couple? Was the idean mutual?  How long were they together? Can they see eachother with out one another? Do they think it's going to be easy to move on? Who even brough divorce up in the relationship? Did one not want to divorce but just gave in to watch the other be happy? Had they been thinking of it but just trying to hold on? Did they attempt to give it one more shot? or did they just give up? It's upseting to see a couple who loved eachother change feelings along a way. Was that way happy, frustrating, or just tiring? Yes, People have their own explanation as to why they are divorcing, or try to explain that others won't and don't understand. But When you take say those meaningful vows, you're suppose to give it your all. In the poem, did these people even try? Could they just not hang on anymore?

This poem is very honest and doesn't try painting a confusing picture. You don't have to read between the lines to get an idea. It's very simple and broad. She leaves open spaces every where for many reasons I believe. Everyone has their own reasons as to why they divorce. But Ever After, the poem expresses how every divorce is whether happy or any other reason being. Any divorce can relate to this poem. It's just simply explaining how a happy couple are moving on with life but with out one another.