The Subanen Tribal Elopement Poem by RIC BASTASA

he is seventeen
and she is sixteen and
they are all
tight in their
glowing skins

and they are so
attracted
their eyes glued
to each other

and they left
looking for a place
where they cannot
be reached

no need to worry
tell the parents
they are too young
to start and manage

another seven kids
for another native house
where parents cannot
be blamed for what they
too did when they were
so young and very much
like all of them