I want to know

It doesn't interest me
what you do to grow spiritually.
Reddy I want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me
how old you are.
Reddy I want to know 
if you will risk 
caring for a poor man like me
and love me as the husband
of your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me
what planets are 
squaring your moon...
Reddy I want to know
if you have touched
the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened
by life's betrayals
or have become shriveled and closed
from fear of further pain.

Reddy I want to know
if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

Reddy I want to know
if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can cheer with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you 
to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations
of being human.

It doesn't interest me
if the story you are telling me
is lengthy.
Reddy I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear
the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

Reddy I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

Reddy I want to know
if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes."

It doesn't interest me
to know where you walk
or how much money you have.
Reddy I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to care for my family

it doesn't interest me
who had sex with you earlier on
or how you came to be here.
Reddy I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back

If you will be and remain faithful to the marriage

And increase your trustworthy

Day after another.

It doesn't interest me
where or what or with whom
you have studied.
Reddy I want to know 
what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

Reddy, I want to know
if you can be alone 
with yourself
and if you truly like
the company you keep
in the empty moments

Or if you can keep a company of one

Husband throughout your life.

 (Edited for Reddy Chepkosgei)