The Wedding Band

The girl smiled and said: What

is the secret of this gold ring,

the secret of this ring that so tightly

embraces my finger,

the secret of this band

that sparkles and shines so?

the man was startled and said:

it's the ring of good fortune, the ring of life.

Everyone said: Congratulations and best wishes!

the girl said: Alas

that I still have doubts about its meaning.

The years passed, and one night

a downhearted woman looked at that gold band

and saw in its gleaming pattern

days wasted in hopes of husbandly fidelity,

days totally wasted.

The woman grew agitated and cried out:

O my, this ring that

still sparkles and shines

is the band of slavery and servitude.