Child Bride Poem by Juan Olivarez

Winter 1973
He nineteen, she barely sixteen.
Who can say, when love arrives
If it's right or, if it's wrong.
who can approve?
Who can condemn?

Simple things
The inability to go out
For a burger
Or to go to a movie
Or to skate around the rink
At the Grapefruit Bowl.

The running around
Behind loved ones backs
Secret rendezvous
stolen precious moments
Stolen fiery kisses
Proverbial cloak and dagger.

Children coming of age
Before time, quicker than most
But always trusting in God
Trusting in love, for one another
Clinging always to each other
Gaining strength from each other.

But not even my child bride
Or I for that matter.
Could dream that forty years later
Our love would grow
So much and to the extent
That we have become, one entity.

5/30/14
ALTON TEXAS