in response

in response to happy news
"Marry him? It's your life.."
I could wish for
"I'm happy for you both", no,
it's too late in life to learn
such things, the shoes don't fit, the back hurts,
it's raining, it's too unfamiliar, it's too late to learn
a few new words in a new language, there is no
dictionary for such things, no iPhone app, no
on-line tutorial or help desk, just a receiving
heart that aches a bit as the words
pass in front of my eyes, this postcard
brings no happiness, in some cases
hope should not spring
eternal.